"No other party can claim to have a legacy as rich as ours," Gandhi said, referring to the freedom struggle under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and his colleagues.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi today said the women's reservation bill was part of the abiding commitment of the party to the empowerment of the aam aadmi (common man) along with several other legislations of the government.
Addressing the party general secretaries, senior members and PCC presidents on how to commemorate the 125th foundation day of the party, she said, "Our abiding commitment to the empowerment of the aam aadmi must be conveyed with clarity."
She said, "The right to information marked a revolutionary step for transparent governance. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) empowered the rural masses with guaranteed right to work. The right to education will provide quality primary education to all our children and now, the women's reservation bill - when it comes to fruition would be realisation of Rajivji's vision to empower women politically".
Describing the completion of 125 years of the party's existence as a "momentous occasion", she said for the people of India and thousands of congressmen and women across the country, it is time to recall the struggle.
"No other party can claim to have a legacy as rich as ours," she said, referring to the freedom struggle under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and his colleagues.
All AICC general secretaries, including Rahul Gandhi, PCC presidents, party in-charges of various states and office-bearers of the committee were present to celebrate the 125th anniversay .
Gandhi said the party's 125th anniversary falls in the first year of the second term of Congress led UPA government and holds special political significance for it.
Referring to the 2009 Lok Sabha election results, she said it was an affirmation of the abiding faith of the Indian people in the values and programmes, policy of inclusive growth and for the welfare of the 'aam aadmi' of congress.
"This is the time for consolidation and an opportunity to reach out to each section of society, in each region of the country and connect with the masses," she said, adding, "Our young people must be made aware of the history of the struggle for independence. We need to reach out to them as they hold the key to future".
The congress president said that the AICC has taken a decision to launch a year-long commemoration by holding a special public function at Jallianwalla bagh in Amritsar on April 13.
She said the AICC national preparatory committee has drawn up a list of historical landmarks in the freedom struggle - major satyagrahas launched by Mahatma Gandhi at Dandi, Champaran, Bardoli, Kheda, the Quit India call and the call for Sampoorna Swaraj.
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