New Delhi: The Congress on September 18 unveiled seven guarantees in its manifesto for the upcoming Haryana assembly elections which included providing women with Rs 2,000 per month, cheaper LPG cylinders at Rs 500, restoring the old pension scheme, two lakh government jobs, free electricity for up to 500 units apart from its continuing its promises from the Lok Sabha elections of a legal guarantee for MSP (minimum support price) and a caste census.
The manifesto was released by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi in the presence of party general secretary and MP K.C. Venugopal, Ajay Maken, former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan, and other senior leaders Ashok Gehlot and Partap Singh Bajwa.
“The seven guarantees that we will provide if we form the government in Haryana has been called saat vadein, pakke iraade (seven promises, firm resolutions),” said Kharge.
Jobs, welfare
He said:
“Our seven guarantees have been divided into seven parts-Rs 2,000 to women to give power to them along with Rs 500 LPG cylinders. Modi’s government will keep increasing the prices but we will reduce it. Under social security we will give Rs 6,000 as old age pension, disability pension, widow pension and restore the old pension scheme. In order to give secure future to the youth, we will give 2 lakh secured jobs. There are so many vacancies which the government is not filling. We have said earlier that there are at least 30-35 lakh central government vacancies. And in states they are not filling vacancies because the centre does not have money for salaries. The jobs that we are promising, we will fulfil.”
“In order to give happiness to all families we will give free electricity upto 300 units and free healthcare upto Rs 25 lakh as was started by the Gehlot government in Rajasthan. This will benefit the poor and farmers as well. For the poor we will give 100 yards plot and two-room house at a cost of Rs 3.5 lakhs. When the government’s finances become better, this can be expanded to another room,” he said.
MSP, caste census
Kharge said that for farmers, legal guarantee for MSP will be provided as was promised in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and has subsequently been raised in parliament.
“We have raised the caste census in the parliament and promised it during the Lok Sabha campaign as well, and will ensure it is done in Haryana to see where each caste is located and what their position is in terms of incomes, jobs,” he said.
The party has additionally also promised to increase the creamy layer for OBCs in the state to an annual income of Rs 10 lakh. After the Lok Sabha elections the BJP in Haryana increased the limit from Rs 6 lakhs to Rs 8 lakhs.
Double engine
Taking aim at the BJP government in Haryana, Kharge said that the “double-engine” government has ruined Haryana which was once a prosperous state.
“I was a railways minister earlier. Two engines are attached, one at the front and one at the back. One is used to take the train forward, but to bring it back, another engine is required to pull the train back. Just like that they [BJP] have a double engine government. If one takes it forward, the other takes it backward. If these shortcomings have to be overcome, then a Congress government must be formed again and the Congress party’s leaders are ready to do so. It is my promise that if a Congress government is formed, we shall implement all these seven guarantees that we have announced today,” he said.
