Holding the ninth edition of Congress’ public outreach programme, ‘Vipaksh Aapke Samaksh’ (Opposition Before You), at Hisar, the bastion of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-Jannayak Janta Party (BJP-JJP) coalition, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda announced to scrap the government’s flagship programmes — ‘Parivar Pehchan Patra’ and ‘Meri Fasal Mera Byora’ — if voted to power. He also promised to double the old-age pension, 300 units of free electricity and two lakh permanent jobs.
Laying out the Congress’ agenda, Mr. Hooda said his party, if returned to power, would end this ‘drama’ of Family ID and scrap the portal-based ‘Meri Fasal Mera Byora’ programme. “First of all, we will scrap the ‘Parivar Pehchan Patra’ programme to end this drama of Family ID and the ‘Meri Fasal Mera Byora’ programme. When the Congress Government is formed, the pension of the elderly will be increased to ₹6,000 per month. Every family will be given a gas cylinder for ₹500. Plots of 100 yards will be given to Scheduled Castes and Backwards,” he said.
Mr. Hooda also announced to provide two lakh permanent jobs, increase the cap for creamy layer for backward class from ₹6 lakh to ₹10 lakh, ensure cheaper loans to artisans under Vishwakarma Karigar Yojana and re-introduce the old pension scheme for the employees. The Leader of the Opposition also guaranteed Minimum Support Price to the farmers and provide 300 units of free electricity for poor families.
