Congress Donate for Desh Campaign Inspired by Bapu

New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday announced that the party will be launching an online crowdfunding campaign "Donate for Desh" on December 18, saying that the initiative is inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s historic "Tilak Swaraj Fund" in 1920-21.

AICC treasurer Ajay Maken said that the Donate for Desh initiative is an umbrella campaign under which a “series of campaigns” will be carried out. Under the first of these, the party is encouraging donations in multiples of 138 to commemorate the Congress’s 138th anniversary.

“On completion of 138 years of the Congress, we request the countrymen to deposit amounts like `138, `1,380, `13,800 in the Congress account to strengthen the Congress, so that the Congress can work for a better India,” said Mr Maken.

The AICC treasurer added that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will officially launch the campaign on December 18 in New Delhi and the online donation links will go live at the same time. He added that two channels have been created for donations -- a dedicated online portal www.donateinc.in and the official INC website www.inc.in.

AICC general secretary organisation K.C. Venugopal said the donation links will go live on December 18. All Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) presidents will raise awareness about the campaign through press conferences and social media, he said, adding that the campaign will primarily be online until December 28, the party's foundation day. After that, ground campaigns, including door-to-door visits by volunteers, targeting at least 10 houses in every booth for contributions of at least `138 from each will be launched.

Mr Venugopal also announced a "mammoth rally" in Maharashtra's Nagpur on December 28 to mark the party's 138th foundation day. He said at least 10-lakh people will attend the historic rally.

"We have already completed the 138-year journey of the Indian National Congress. This year, on the anniversary of our foundation, we are going to hold a mammoth rally in Nagpur on December 28," the Congress general secretary said.

The rally, he said, will be attended by all Congress office-bearers, leaders and workers from across the country.

"This is going to be a national rally attended by all senior party leaders. On Friday, we held a detailed meeting with Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee leaders in Nagpur. A minimum of 10-lakh Congress leaders and workers will participate," he claimed.