Even after releasing a 120-plus pages manifesto for 2017 Punjab polls, the Congress party continued to woo various sections by making more promises.
Claiming it to be party’s attempt to expand vision of party’s poll document, the state party president Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday promised cheaper petrol and lPG besides 10 per cent reduction in electricity duty throughout the State, among other things. The former Chief Minister also promised announced to include free travel facility for senior citizens and students besides the ex-servicemen, police and paramilitary force personnel on State transport buses.
Explaining the rationale behind making more announcements even after releasing “detailed” manifesto, Capt Amarinder said: “Though the manifesto is a comprehensive document, addressing the concerns of every section of Punjab’s populace, the need to bring in some more welfare measures was strongly felt in the party circles.”
Promising to bring about parity in petrol and lPG prices with Chandigarh and neighbouring States, he said, “It was not fair that the people of Punjab had to pay more for the same amenity for which others were paying less.”
In order to cut down on the cost, he said, taxes for petrol pumps will be rationalised to make them at par with others. This will help bring down the petrol price by about `3 per litre, he claimed.
Additionally, he said that lPG price will come down to `15 per cylinder through the initiative.
Capt Amarinder said the decision on reduction of petrol and lPG prices was based on the feedback received from the people, particularly industrialists who said that the higher rates of these commodities were impacting their business in Punjab.
Transport and freight charges would be significantly reduced as a result of this initiative, thus giving a boost to the industry and further propelling the Congress efforts to revive the industry in the state after it comes to power in the State, he added.
Reiterating his commitment to provide subsidised power to the industry and household consumers, along with free power for agricultural development, Capt Amarinder said that it was felt necessary to further extend the benefit of cheaper power through additional measures.
Referring to transportation which was allegedly under “Badal family mafia control” since the past 10 years, the Congress state unit chief said he was committed to easing the people’s burden on this count and the move to provide free travel to senior citizens and students was a step in this direction.