Union Minister for Commerce, Industry & Textiles Anand Sharma said that the UPA Government is planning to implement the Right to Food Security Act after the tremendous response to the Right to Education and Right to Information, which have been “successfully implemented”.

Sharma said the industrial package for hill States of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir will be revised and likely to be introduced again next year.

He added that Team Anna’s campaign would not have any adverse effect on the Congress vote bank. Addressing media-persons in a Press conference held in Dehradun on Friday, as the electorate is fully aware of the fact that it is the only national party that focusses on overall development.

“A change of guard is in offing. It would be hard for the BJP to make a comeback,” Sharma said. According to Sharma, the BJP “lacked leaders not only at the State level but also at the national level”. He promised that storage centres would be opened in higher areas of Uttarakhand under the National Horticulture Mission if the Congress is voted to power. Special focus would be laid on food processing techniques for the vegetables and fruits grown in Uttarakhand.

Lamenting that the State Government failed to carry out development activities, Sharma alleged that a sum of Rs 60,800 was sanctioned by the UPA Government for rural development, education and health but nothing much has been done in this regard. According to him, special focus would be laid by the Congress to provide quality education and boost both tourism and industry in Uttarakhand if the party is voted to the power. Sharma said that “tainted and rebel candidates” will not be further tolerated and will be suspended for six years for anti-party rhetoric.

Sharma claimed that 10 crore jobs in various sectors would be generated in the next 10 years. He said that special focus would be laid by the party on tourism and industry in Uttarakhand. Every possible step would be taken by the party to turn Uttarakhand into a “developed State”. During the conference, Vijay Bahuguna, chairman, Uttarakhand Congress Election Campaign Committee, clarified that Virendra Singh Rawat (Dhanolti) has not been suspended from the party.

AICC general secretary Asha Kumari, Pradesh Congress Committee spokesman Surendra Kumar, ECC vice-president Suryakant Dhasmana and former Dehradun mayor Manorama Sharma Dobriyal were present. Later in the evening, Sharma addressed the public rally in Raipur, Dehradun. He urged the gathering to vote in favour of Congress candidate Umesh Sharma, who is contesting from Raipur Assembly constituency. He expressed concern over the issue that the constituency lacks basic infrastructure. He claimed that the Congress party will generate ample employment opportunities for the local youth. Cabinet Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat is contesting against Umesh Sharma in the seat.