Congress would always defend values enshrined in the constitution, says Dwivedi

Congress leader Janardhan Dwivedi on Monday said that as the government or the opposition, the Congress would always defend the values enshrined in the constitution.

"As the government or the opposition, the Congress will always defend the values enshrined in the constitution. A change will come; you can wait for it if you wish," said Dwivedi, while addressing the media today.

He also said that Lok Sabha results were disappointing, and that the party had its shortcomings.

"The Lok Sabha results have been disappointing, and we had shortcomings. Sonia ji took the responsibility and offered to resign, although, the party members rejected it unanimously. Even Dr.Manmohan Singh said that he takes the responsibility for government failure," said Dwivedi.

"Rahul ji also said that he takes responsibility and offered to resign, but the CWC did not agree with it. He also said that party lacks accountability, and that he intends to resign to initiate culture of accountability,"he said.

"The CWC understands the pain of the workers who worked for the party and the CWC acknowledges its responsibility for the performance of the party this LS polls," he added.

Earlier in the day, Congress leaders unanimously rejected party president Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi's offer to resign at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) over the party's electoral defeat.

"There was no discussion about changes. We have given authority to Sonia Gandhi and accept that we are all responsible for the defeat," said party leader Beni Prasad Verma.

As the meeting began, a group of youth Congress workers outside the venue shouted pro-Rahul slogans.

"We all rejected the resignation of the Congress president and vice president and general discussions followed later," said Congress leader Amarinder Singh.

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) met in the wake of the party's worst-ever performance in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls.

Accepting responsibility for the poll debacle, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi had said that the mandate in the Lok Sabha polls was clearly against the Congress and said there was a lot for the party to think about.