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The history of Congress’ brainstorming sessions: A look back at the party’s earlier ‘Chintan Shivirs’

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The history of Congress’ brainstorming sessions: A look back at the party’s earlier ‘Chintan Shivirs’

Chintan Shivir, Congress’ brainstorming session, begins today in Udaipur, Rajasthan’s lake city. The three-day conclave’s main goal is to come up with a solid action plan for the party to move forward.

“At the Chintan Shivir session, the Congress will introspect, contemplate, and reflect on the way forward, as well as new milestones to be crossed,” said the party’s general secretary Randeep Surjewala.

Nearly 500 delegates will be split into 70-person groups to brainstorm on topics such as social justice and empowerment, politics, organisation, economy, farmers, and youth. They will present their reports to the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on May 15 after the session.

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Sonia Gandhi, the Congress president, will deliver the opening remarks, and Rahul Gandhi will deliver the closing remarks. However, this is not the first time such gatherings have taken place under Sonia Gandhi’s leadership. Since 1998, the party has held three more sessions.

1998, Pachmarhi

Soon after Sonia Gandhi was elected party president, the first Chintan Shivir was held in Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh. Congress faced similar challenges at the time.

Congress did not cede its turf to alliance parties for short-term political gain at the end of the session. The party decided that it didn’t need the alliance to win elections and that it could survive on the charisma of its leaders alone.

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Shimla, 2003

Congress realised the value of forming an alliance five years later. They chose to form a coalition of “progressive thinking men and women, institutions, and political movements who share our understanding of India’s past, current concerns, and vision for India’s future to join us in this historic endeavour.”

Congress was able to stay in power for a decade thanks to the Shivir of 2003. MGNREGA, food security, social and economic empowerment, and RTE were all part of the party’s rights-based governance model.

Jaipur, 2013

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Prior to the 2014 general elections, the party felt the need for another round of brainstorming sessions. Rahul Gandhi was formally elevated as the party’s vice-president during this session. The party’s youth wing, the National Students’ Union of India and Indian Youth Congress, attended the Shivir for the first time.

The party even devised a strategy for the 2014 general elections, but under the Modi wave, nothing really translated into electoral politics.

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Pahalgam Attack

Man says terror suspect spoke to him day before Pahalgam attack: ‘Hindu ho kya?’

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Man says terror suspect spoke to him day before Pahalgam attack: ‘Hindu ho kya?’

The Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025 resulted in the deaths of 26 people, mostly tourists, in the Baisaran valley. A man from Maharashtra’s Jalna claimed that a suspected attacker spoke to him a day before the attack. The National Investigation Agency is currently investigating the incident Adarsh Raut, who recently returned from Jammu and Kashmir.

Recounted his interaction with a man at a food stall in the Baisaran Valley on April 21. The man asked him if he was a Hindu and told him that he did not look like a Kashmiri. The suspect then turned to his companion and said, “There’s less crowd today.” The Jalna resident found the conversation disturbing but did not grasp the full implication until the following.

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Day, when terrorists killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in the same area. The incident highlights the need for increased security measures in the region and the need for a more robust security system The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been investigating the Pahalgam terror attack, which occurred in Kashmir. The agency questioned several people, including family.

Members of victims, tourists, and pony riders, since it took over the case from the Jammu and Kashmir Police. The agency took over the case five days after the incident and four days after its team visited the attack site. Since April 23, NIA teams have been camping at the Pahalgam terror attack site and have intensified the search for evidence. The teams, overseen by an.

Inspector General, a Deputy Inspector General, and a Superintendent of Police, are examining eyewitnesses who witnessed the horrifying attack unfold before their eyes at the peaceful Baisaran valley. The NIA is also examining the phone number of the Maggi stall owner, who was unable to pay him due to network issues. Tourists are returning to Pahalgam days after.

The attack, stating that there is nothing to fear Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir – April 30, 2025 — A chilling account has emerged from a local resident in Pahalgam who claims that a man and several injured near the tourist hub suspected to be involved in the recent terror attack in the area had approached him a day prior and asked pointedly, “Hindu ho kya Are you Hindu?).

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The resident, identified only as Shabbir Ahmad for security reasons, said he encountered the man while walking near the Lidder River on Sunday evening. According to Shabbir, the man—described as being in his late twenties, with a trimmed beard and wearing civilian trekking attire—struck up a casual conversation before abruptly asking about his religion.

“I told him I was Muslim, and he just nodded and walked away quietly,” Shabbir told local police, who are now investigating the possible link between this interaction and the Monday morning attack that left three tourists dead and several injured near the tourist hub of Pahalgam The incident has raised serious concerns targeted violence, particularly against.

Pilgrims and tourists visiting the Valley. Security agencies have not ruled out the possibility that the suspect was conducting reconnaissance or attempting to identify potential targets based on religious identity Senior police officials said they are reviewing CCTV footage and have circulated sketches based on eyewitness accounts, including Shabbir We are pursuing.

All leads seriously. This account is valuable and may help us track the attackers,” said Anantnag SSP Shakti Pathak The attack is the latest in a string of violence aimed at disrupting tourism and peace in the region. Security has been heightened, and have been set up around Pahalgam and adjoining routes.

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