Congress manifesto for Assam polls vows justice for Zubeen, women's welfare
Guwahati: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday unveiled the party’s Assam poll manifesto, which has been labelled as the party’s “Guarantee Letter”.
Promising an unconditional monthly bank transfer of a stipulated amount to every woman’s account, as well as Rs 50,000 for women entrepreneurs, who are looking to start or expand their businesses, the manifesto, which was released in Naoboicha in upper Assam’s Lakhimpur district, seeks to counter several welfare schemes of the BJP-led govt, which had proved to be masterstrokes in the past.
Addressing the rally, Kharge slammed CM Himanta Biswa Sarma for “stabbing Congress in the back”, before adding that it will be a contest between the real and fake Congress. “This is not BJP’s fight, because no BJP person accepts him (Himanta), he has forcefully entered,” Kharge added.
He alleged that Sarma overnight left Congress for his own survival and claimed that PM Narendra Modi had “installed” Sarma as CM, sidelining Sarbananda Sonowal, despite the 2021 elections being fought in Sonowal’s name.
Accusing the CM of betrayal, Kharge said Sarma turned against those who had nurtured him. “Ali Baba is in Delhi and 40 thieves are here in Assam,” Kharge said, taking a dig at BJP’s hierarchy in Delhi.
Kharge said, unlike BJP, a Congress-led govt would not require women to become their party members to receive the benefits announced in the manifesto.
Highlighting Congress’s “5 Pratishrutis” (five promises), which include justice for Zubeen Garg , cashless health cover for every family, a monthly pension for senior citizens and land rights for indigenous people, Kharge said the manifesto was prepared after extensive consultations and careful consideration of public opinion.
“Our monthly bank transfer will be unconditional. Moreover, we will give women an amount of Rs 50,000 to start or expand their businesses, and the reason we are calling this a guarantee is that the money BJP gives to women today is conditional. They ask them whether they are BJP members or not. But after our govt comes, we will not impose any conditions, we will give to everyone, to all mothers, to all women, we will look at them with one equal perspective,” Kharge said.
The Congress president further said a cashless health cover of Rs 25 lakh will be provided to every family. “We have fulfilled this guarantee in Karnataka, as well as in Rajasthan, when we were in power, and also in Telangana,” Kharge added.
“If our govt comes to power, in just 100 days we will investigate how Zubeen was murdered, and who were responsible for it. We will conduct the inquiry in 100 days and show the results,” Kharge said.
Addressing the issue of land rights, the 83-year-old Congress veteran said “permanent land patta” for 10 lakh indigenous people was a vital part of the party’s guarantee. “We will give them permanent pattas. So that they don’t have to go to offices again and again, don’t have to fall at everyone’s feet again and again, don’t have to go and fight at police stations again and again,” Kharge said.
Senior citizens, too, will receive a monthly sum of Rs 1,250, Kharge said, stating that the party’s vision was to provide cover for the elderly, youth, farmers, small entrepreneurs, tea garden workers, labourers and women.
Promising an unconditional monthly bank transfer of a stipulated amount to every woman’s account, as well as Rs 50,000 for women entrepreneurs, who are looking to start or expand their businesses, the manifesto, which was released in Naoboicha in upper Assam’s Lakhimpur district, seeks to counter several welfare schemes of the BJP-led govt, which had proved to be masterstrokes in the past.
Addressing the rally, Kharge slammed CM Himanta Biswa Sarma for “stabbing Congress in the back”, before adding that it will be a contest between the real and fake Congress. “This is not BJP’s fight, because no BJP person accepts him (Himanta), he has forcefully entered,” Kharge added.
He alleged that Sarma overnight left Congress for his own survival and claimed that PM Narendra Modi had “installed” Sarma as CM, sidelining Sarbananda Sonowal, despite the 2021 elections being fought in Sonowal’s name.
Accusing the CM of betrayal, Kharge said Sarma turned against those who had nurtured him. “Ali Baba is in Delhi and 40 thieves are here in Assam,” Kharge said, taking a dig at BJP’s hierarchy in Delhi.
Kharge said, unlike BJP, a Congress-led govt would not require women to become their party members to receive the benefits announced in the manifesto.
Highlighting Congress’s “5 Pratishrutis” (five promises), which include justice for Zubeen Garg , cashless health cover for every family, a monthly pension for senior citizens and land rights for indigenous people, Kharge said the manifesto was prepared after extensive consultations and careful consideration of public opinion.
“Our monthly bank transfer will be unconditional. Moreover, we will give women an amount of Rs 50,000 to start or expand their businesses, and the reason we are calling this a guarantee is that the money BJP gives to women today is conditional. They ask them whether they are BJP members or not. But after our govt comes, we will not impose any conditions, we will give to everyone, to all mothers, to all women, we will look at them with one equal perspective,” Kharge said.
The Congress president further said a cashless health cover of Rs 25 lakh will be provided to every family. “We have fulfilled this guarantee in Karnataka, as well as in Rajasthan, when we were in power, and also in Telangana,” Kharge added.
“If our govt comes to power, in just 100 days we will investigate how Zubeen was murdered, and who were responsible for it. We will conduct the inquiry in 100 days and show the results,” Kharge said.
Addressing the issue of land rights, the 83-year-old Congress veteran said “permanent land patta” for 10 lakh indigenous people was a vital part of the party’s guarantee. “We will give them permanent pattas. So that they don’t have to go to offices again and again, don’t have to fall at everyone’s feet again and again, don’t have to go and fight at police stations again and again,” Kharge said.
Senior citizens, too, will receive a monthly sum of Rs 1,250, Kharge said, stating that the party’s vision was to provide cover for the elderly, youth, farmers, small entrepreneurs, tea garden workers, labourers and women.
Next Story