Congress's base has expanded but its ideology eroded: Satyavrat

Raipur, Oct 11 (UNI) Remaining in power for years has helped the Congress to expand its base but has led to considerable erosion in its ideology, party General Secretary Satyavrat Chaturvedi said today.

''The attraction of youths towards the Congress has risen due to its long stint in power. However, these party workers had little brush with Gandhi's philosophy or the party's line of thinking,'' Mr Chaturvedi, while addressing inaugural ceremony of three-day state-level training camp for party workers, said.

He pointed out that when non-Congress governments became dominant in 1969, it was concluded that not understanding the importance of Gandhiji's philosophy and freedom struggle caused it.

The first training camp was organised in 1970 but most effective training camp took place during former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's tenure.

Mr Chaturvedi said the former Prime Minister wanted to develop a party cadre that would promote Gandhiji's philosophy besides its work in social and economic sectors.

However, over the years, ad-hocism had led to dilution in the effect of these training camps.

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