The ruling Congress in Rajasthan on Tuesday released its manifesto for the Assembly election with the promise to conduct a caste survey in the State, followed by reservation in proportion to population, as well as the commitment to implement the seven guarantees that have already been announced by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. A slew of scheme were also announced for farmers and the youth.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, accompanied by Mr. Gehlot, party State unit chief Govind Singh Dotasra, fomer Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and Assembly Speaker C.P. Joshi, who headed the manifesto committee, released the document at the party office here. Mr. Kharge said his party had only made those promises which it could fulfil after being elected to power.
‘Creating 4 lakh govt. jobs’
The manifesto made a promise for creating 10 lakh new job opportunities, including four lakh in the government sector, enactment of a law for ensuring minimum support prices (MSP) to farmers following the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations and doubling of the amount for beneficiaries under the Chiranjeevi health insurance scheme from ₹25 lakh to ₹50 lakh annually.
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Mr. Kharge accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP of reneging on their commitments, despite being in power at the Centre for nine years. “There are many shortcomings in Gujarat, where Mr. Modi was the CM for 13 years. The reason is the lack of commitment,” he said, while rejecting the allegation that he had abused Mr. Modi’s father.
‘Focus on economic growth’
Mr. Gehlot said Rajasthan had occupied the second rank in the country in terms of economic growth as a result of good governance of the Congress. “The State’s economy will be of the order of ₹15 lakh crore by 2023-end and a target has been set to take it to ₹30 lakh crore by 2030,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the per capita income in the State had increased significantly and the manufacturing and other related sectors had witnessed a tremendous growth. The election manifesto would be treated as a government document by placing it in the first Cabinet meeting, he said, adding that this practice was adopted when he became the Chief Minister for the first time in 1998.
As part of immediate priorities for the government, the manifesto promised interest-free loans up to ₹2 lakh for farmers from the cooperative banks, a new scheme for recruitment at the panchayat level gradually merging with government vacancies, interest-free loans up to ₹5 lakh to small traders and shopkeepers and enactment of an Accountability and Auto Service Delivery Act for good governance.
Rajasthan goes to the polls on November 25 and the counting of votes will be on December 3.
