Sonia tells party workers to introspect, be ready for sacrifices

New Delhi, Dec 16 (IANS) Sonia Gandhi, who on Saturday retired as Congress chief - a position she had held since 1998, said the party must "look within" to fight the forces that attack the fundamentals of the Constitution and also be ready to make any sacrifice.

"Since 2014, we have been playing the part of the opposition. Never before have we faced the challenge that we face today. The fundamentals of our Constitution are under attack. Our party has lost several state elections.

"But an exemplary energy fires our Congress workers. We are not ones to bend in fear, because our struggle is a fight for the very soul of this nation. We will never retreat from this fight."

She said the leaders and workers of the Congress, as the custodians of the ideals and principles of the nation, had a challenge to meet -- to safeguard "our fundamental principles" of India.

"This is no small matter. It is not power, wealth or self-importance that is our aim, it is this country - it is safeguarding our fundamental principles. We are all witness to the daily attacks against freedom of speech and expression, against our culture of diversity, and its replacement with an atmosphere of suspicion and fear.

"The Congress must look within in order to forge ahead. If we do not stand by our principles, we will not be able to wage this fight. It is a battle of righteousness, and we must fit ourselves in, in order to attain success," said Gandhi.

"It is a moral battle, we have to be ready to fight these forces and to make any sacrifice."

Sonia Gandhi on Saturday handed over the charge of party president to her son Rahul Gandhi.