Himachal CM termed Congress Manifesto immature, impractical and dangerous for security and integrity of the Nation
Shimla: Indian National Congress has released its poll manifesto. Promising Employment including fill up 22 lakh vacancies in government jobs, Electoral reforms, farm loan waive off, guaranteed income for poor and scrapping of NITI Aayog and constitute a Planning Commission with re-defined responsibilities, Congress has tried to connect with the electorates.
The document, titled Hum Nibhayenge, touched upon a range of key issues, including national security, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the North East, foreign policy, defence, Accountable Governance, state of the rural economy, the current tax regime and environmental challenges, among other concerns. It also promises to allocate 6 percent of the GDP to education, 150 days of guaranteed work under MNREGA, boost healthcare infrastructure and women’s safety.
Veteran Congress leader Virbhadra Singh hailed the manifesto and termed it progressive and dedicated to benefit all sections of society. Singh said that Congress has fulfilled its poll promises in the past and will implement its manifesto in letter and spirit. Crediting development of the nation, Veteran leader said that the policies initiated and implemented by the Congress was instrumental in the development of the nation and in the near future party is committed to contribute fullest.
On the other side, BJP has found loopholes in the manifesto and called it far away from realty, immature, impractical and also highly dangerous for security and integrity of the nation.
Himachal CM Jai Ram Thakur said that congress is carrying forward bad legacy and mistake of Pt Jawaharlal Nehru by abolishing sedition law and promising review of provisions of Armed Forces Special Power Act in Jammu and Kashmir. In a press statement Mr CM said
“It is unfortunate that President of a National Party like Congress is following the path of ‘Tukde Tukde gang and behaving like Maoists and Jehadists. Problems in Jammu and Kashmir are the contribution of Congress party and Nehru-Gandhi Family. Congress and Nehru ji created a special status for J &K, unconstitutionally brought in Article 35A and eroded the confidence of the people of Jammu and Kashmir by providing corrupt governance; and Rahul is trying to multiply the same by putting forward dangerous propositions. This also amount to the betrayal towards the people of rest of the country, especially those who laid down their lives for the country, many of whom, keeping our tradition of bravery and service to the nation, were Himachalis.”
Blaming Congress for being soft on terror and separatism, Jai Ram Thakur termed Congress poll promise to temper with provision of doing away with sedition law. He quipped
“It is unfortunate that congress thinks that the provisions which deal with sedition should be removed from Indian Penal Code. In that case an act of treason will not be an offence in the country. You can well imagine the state of nation in such situation where separatists and traitors will move freely”
Himachal CM also jostled Congress manifesto for promising ‘only merit-based subsidy’ and reminded Congress party that it has initiated most of the subsidies, and by promising ‘only merit-based subsidy’ congress has admitted now that they were following non merit based systems and subsidies for the last 60 years of their regime.
