Cong’s Punjab manifesto vows to end drug menace

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday released the Congress’ manifesto for poll-bound Punjab while chief ministerial candidate Amarinder Singh promised a nine-point charter to “restore Punjab’s honour and glory”.

The party simultaneously released a charge-sheet, accusing the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP combine of having racked and ruined Punjab’s reputation from being “the granary of India” and a model of “prosperity and growth” to a State-riddled with debt and drug abuse.

Amarinder has been projected as the strong leader with a formula for ushering in a “new era of development” – Nawan Naroan Punjab Liye Captain De Naun Nukte (Captain’s nine solutions for a new and prosperous Punjab).

The Congress manifesto, while being exhaustive, had its focus on the State’s drug menace, with a promise to wiping out contraband trade in a month. It also promised a loan waiver for, and free power to, farmers.

Amarinder promised a new industrial policy in 90 days, sweeping economic reforms and the generation of 25 lakh jobs over the next five years.

The manifesto also listed a host of welfare measures such as student loans, 33 per cent reservation for women in jobs and free housing for those hailing from the Scheduled Castes and OBCs, and a job to every household.

Amarinder also announced a stipend of ₹2,500 per month for unemployed youth, free smartphones for the youth and free textbooks to all children.

Releasing the manifesto, Manmohan said the ruling alliance had brought the State to fiscal and social ruin and asserted that Amarinder’s leadership was “badly needed” to exploit the State’s tremendous potential.

“The challenge before Punjab is to rise above all this din and recognise that the people of Punjab need a better tomorrow. This election manifesto is a forward-looking visionary document, which promises the people that we will undo the damage done to the Punjab economy by the State government in the last ten years,” he said.Singh said Amarinder was a visionary leader possessing a wealth of experience and was committed to the cause of Punjab’s development. He said the State’s fiscal situation had suffered under the Akalis.

“Amarinder’s government will undo all this damage and set a new pathway for a better tomorrow which will see that people have a higher per-capita income, better distribution of income, better employment prospects and better infrastructure,” Manmohan said.

Amarinder lamented that Punjab’s growth rate stood at 5.6 per cent, against the national average of 7.3 per cent, and accused the Akalis of dragging the State down from being numero uno to number 19 position during its 10-year rule. “We are in a very bad shape,” he said.

On the contentious SYL Canal issue, he insisted there was no additional water in Punjab, promising to bring in a law to prevent sharing of the State’s waters. “We are not for not giving. But, we don’t have it (to share),” he said when asked about it.

Asked specifically if Amarinder was the chief ministerial candidate, AICC Secretary in-charge Asha Kumari said, “He is officially [State] President, who is leading the party in the polls.”

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