Congress President Rahul Gandhi, chairing the first meeting of the new Congress Working Committee (CWC), on Sunday accused the BJP of oppressing the poor and Dalits and urged party workers to fight for India's poor.
He said the CWC -- the party's highest decision-making body -- had experience and energy and was a bridge between the past, present and future.
The crucial meeting of the revamped CWC is underway in Parliament House Annexe and comes two days after the no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha which the Opposition lost.
The committee, which was announced last week after Gandhi deliberated on its composition for close to seven months, is expected to take stock of the current political, economic and internal and external security situation of the country besides discussing party strategy for the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Gandhi has set the tone for the Congress strategy by going forward and hugging Prime Minister Modi during the no-confidence motion discussions in Lok Sabha and by proclaiming that he will counter the BJP's hatred and anger with Congress' love and compassion.
Among those present at today's meeting include former prime minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, top Congress leaders AK Antony, Motilal Vora, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge and Ashok Gehlot among others.
This is the meeting of extended CWC which also consists of all state party chiefs and legislature party leaders apart from the regular CWC members, permanent and special invitees to the committee.
Gandhi's CWC has 23 regular members instead of 25 allowed by the party constitution.
It has 18 permanent and eight special invitees.