Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday accused the Akali-BJP Government in Punjab of “misusing” governance in the last ten years and said senior Congress leader Capt Amarinder Singh’s leadership is “badly needed” in the State to exploit Punjab’s 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,” Singh said while releasing the manifesto of party for Punjab assembly polls.
Out of power in Punjab for 10 years, Congress promised a host of freebies like farm loan waiver and free power, smart phones, textbooks and doles to unemployed youth in the election manifesto for the state released today.
Hailing Amarinder, Manmohan said he is a leader of great vision who has a wealth of experience and commitment to the cause of development in Punjab. He said Punjab’s fiscal situation has been bad under the Akalis as the state has inflicted great damage on the economy and polity of Punjab being a victim of terrorism.
“Amarinder’s Government will undo all this damage and set a new pathway for a better tomorrow which will see that people will have. A higher per-capita Income, better distribution of Income, better employment prospects and better infrastructure,” said the former PM.
The manifesto promises loan waiver and free power to farmers, wiping out of drug trade within a month, stipend of `2,500 per month to unemployed youth, free smart mobile phones to youth and free textbooks to all children.
Amarinder Singh announced that the state would generate as many as 25 lakh jobs within the next five years so as to provide employment to all youth in the state. He also promised to crackdown on drugs and corruption, and bring a new industrial policy within 90 days, besides promising an end to VIP culture, bring sweeping economic reforms and total transparency in governance. He also promised free houses to homeless dalits/SCs/OBCs and one job in every family.
He lamented that the growth rate of Punjab was down at 5.6 per cent, against the national average of 7.3 per cent, and that the state has slided from number one position to number 19 under Akalis. On the contentious SYl Canal issue, he insisted there was no additional water in Punjab and that when the Assembly will be convened a law will be passed for not sharing any of the state’s waters.
Asked specifically if Amarinder was the chief ministerial candidate, AICC Secretary in-charge Asha Kumari said, “He is officially president, who is leading the party in the polls”.
Noting that this is his last election, Amarinder said, “For 47 years, I have been in politics and this is my last election. I am not going to fight again. People know that what I say, I fulfil.” Announcing other measures, Congress announced affordable electricity.
The manifesto includes a 10-page chargesheet against the Badal regime, exposing the alleged “loot, Boot & Shoot” policy of the SAD-BJP Government that also lists out the multiple failures of the Akali “misrule” of past 10 years.