Congress promises steps to curb hate speech, better law and order
LUCKNOW: A hate crime law to punish “those who seek to create tensions on the basis of caste, gender or religion”, a ‘Ganga highway’ to connect educational and industrial hubs from Garhmukteshwar to Gorakhpur, and an international mango museum in Malihabad, are among the promises that Congress is making to voters in Uttar Pradesh.
The national party, which is contesting 105 assembly seats in an alliance with the ruling Samajwadi Party in the state, has also promised a world class medical college in Varanasi in its lengthy manifesto.
According to Congress insiders, Jairam Ramesh was among the leaders who prepared the manifesto in consultation with SP leaders such as Akhilesh Mishra. It promises ‘UP mein sajha sarkar’, or government in partnership, and “inclusive governance and social harmony”.
While SP is largely driving the combined campaign with its solid ground network, Congress leaders are confident that the party will make a mark in this elections and regain its lost vote share, at least in 35-40 constituencies.
Law and order — a plank that the two main contestants, Bahujan Samaj Party and Bharatiya Janata Party, have criticised the SP government for — is a significant promise in the Congress manifesto that promises at least three separate and full staffed women’s police stations in every district, five new police academy training schools, and a full revamp of the police administration.
A world class night safari in Noida, superfast trains from New Delhi to Varanasi, Aligarh and Lucknow, implementation of Food Security Act, and laws to protect homebuyers against unscrupulous builders and women against harassment laws, too, are among its promises to voters in Uttar Pradesh.
The Congress manifesto also promises reservation for women in panchayat elections and a bicycle to girls studying in classes 9 to class 12 — a promise made by SP too.
The party said it will stand by Rahul Gandhi's promise of ‘qarza maaf, bijli half’ to reduce electricity bills by half for farmers and artisans. It said it will ensure the running of AIIMS in Rae Bareli, Sonia Gandhi's constituency, and promotion of self-help groups in the state.
Congress has also promised walking paths for kawariyas that can be used by Muslim pilgrims as well during Urs celebration.
The manifesto, which praises the Akhilesh Yadav government for doing good work in building expressways in the state, said it will ensure that Ganga highway and Yamuna highway are connected to all four corners of the state.
A few days ago, Akhilesh Yadav had released the SP manifesto that promised establishment of farmers' fund, 24-hour power supply in rural areas, free smart phones, free pressure cooker to poor women, free ghee and milk powder to poor students, a Samajwadi pension of Rs 1,000 every month, metro expansion in Agra, Kanpur, Varanasi and Meerut, and construction of Purvanchal expressway and Bundelkhand, among others.
The Congress manifesto is also high on nationalism. It promises upgradation of freedom memorials at Ballia, Deoria, Meerut, Faizabad, Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Sultanpur, Bithur, Unnao and all other places of historical importance.
Nearly 40 traditional weaving clusters, a new policy for industrial revival of UP, sports club in every block of the state, single window policy for small entrepreneurs, and a state-run bank to provide agricultural loans on easy terms and low interest rates, are among the other promises made by the party.
The national party, which is contesting 105 assembly seats in an alliance with the ruling Samajwadi Party in the state, has also promised a world class medical college in Varanasi in its lengthy manifesto.
According to Congress insiders, Jairam Ramesh was among the leaders who prepared the manifesto in consultation with SP leaders such as Akhilesh Mishra. It promises ‘UP mein sajha sarkar’, or government in partnership, and “inclusive governance and social harmony”.
While SP is largely driving the combined campaign with its solid ground network, Congress leaders are confident that the party will make a mark in this elections and regain its lost vote share, at least in 35-40 constituencies.
Law and order — a plank that the two main contestants, Bahujan Samaj Party and Bharatiya Janata Party, have criticised the SP government for — is a significant promise in the Congress manifesto that promises at least three separate and full staffed women’s police stations in every district, five new police academy training schools, and a full revamp of the police administration.
A world class night safari in Noida, superfast trains from New Delhi to Varanasi, Aligarh and Lucknow, implementation of Food Security Act, and laws to protect homebuyers against unscrupulous builders and women against harassment laws, too, are among its promises to voters in Uttar Pradesh.
The Congress manifesto also promises reservation for women in panchayat elections and a bicycle to girls studying in classes 9 to class 12 — a promise made by SP too.
The party said it will stand by Rahul Gandhi's promise of ‘qarza maaf, bijli half’ to reduce electricity bills by half for farmers and artisans. It said it will ensure the running of AIIMS in Rae Bareli, Sonia Gandhi's constituency, and promotion of self-help groups in the state.
Congress has also promised walking paths for kawariyas that can be used by Muslim pilgrims as well during Urs celebration.
The manifesto, which praises the Akhilesh Yadav government for doing good work in building expressways in the state, said it will ensure that Ganga highway and Yamuna highway are connected to all four corners of the state.
A few days ago, Akhilesh Yadav had released the SP manifesto that promised establishment of farmers' fund, 24-hour power supply in rural areas, free smart phones, free pressure cooker to poor women, free ghee and milk powder to poor students, a Samajwadi pension of Rs 1,000 every month, metro expansion in Agra, Kanpur, Varanasi and Meerut, and construction of Purvanchal expressway and Bundelkhand, among others.
The Congress manifesto is also high on nationalism. It promises upgradation of freedom memorials at Ballia, Deoria, Meerut, Faizabad, Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Sultanpur, Bithur, Unnao and all other places of historical importance.
Nearly 40 traditional weaving clusters, a new policy for industrial revival of UP, sports club in every block of the state, single window policy for small entrepreneurs, and a state-run bank to provide agricultural loans on easy terms and low interest rates, are among the other promises made by the party.
