The Congress party’s poll manifesto was prepared in an open manner this time round which incorporated views of a cross-section of people having the voice of women, fishermen, labourers and other categories of people, Congress party’s National Women’s Wing president Shobha Ojha said on Tuesday.
Addressing a news conference here, Ojha lavished praise on the Congress president Sonia Gandhi, vice-president Rahul Gandhi while stating that earlier the party’s election manifesto was prepared by three to four people in closed rooms. This time round, it has been prepared as per the wish of Rahul Gandhi.
‘The BJP has copied this manifesto and declared it, but did not change even its dates’, she said.
Ojha said that women would be more empowered if the UPA-3 comes to power at the Centre. The Bill for the same will be passed in the Parliament’s first session after the lok Sabha polls.
She said that atrocities on women are happening more in Chhattisgarh. Here, everyday, three rape cases have been registered with the police and atrocities are done to more than nine women. ‘The ruling government has failed to make women secure.’
Ojha alleged that people have been observing the activity and character of the BJP. If it was not like that, people would vote looking to the face of its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.
She questioned that when the BJP had declared its prime ministerial candidate a year ago, why it lagged behind in declaring its poll manifesto.
Answering a query , she said that the Congress just fell short of majority in Chhattisgarh and added that the BJP formed Government by using money and muscle power in the polls.
On the Modi wave in the country, Ojha said, if there were wave, the BJP would have fielded its workers, whereas, the party has given tickets to film artistes like Bappi lahiri.
She said that the BJP has made preparation for a Congress-free nation, but it would be a BJP-free country. Many big leaders of that party have finished this dream of the party, she added.
Ojha said that her government would try to make women more empowered. They would get their rights. As per the intentions of Rahul Gandhi, half of the states would have women chief ministers. In Chhattisgarh also, women workers have been given the responsibility of electioneering and all of them are engaged in campaign.
On the ticket of Chhaya Verma from the Raipur lok Sabha seat, Ojha said that her ticket was not decided. Based on the reservation, the Congress has given tickets to three women in the State, but the BJP did not give ticket to a single woman.
On the survey report, which is against the Congress, she said that this kind of report had come in 2004 also, but the UPA had formed the government. It would be repeated this time also and the UPA would form Government. On campaigning by Priyanka Gandhi, she said that it was her own decision where she wanted to campaign.