CPI(M), BJP criticise Rahul Gandhi’s poll guarantees in Kerala
A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi announced five poll guarantees for Kerala, CPI(M) and BJP leaders on Sunday criticised the promises, with some leaders claiming they would not be implemented.
Rahul had announced free travel for women in KSRTC buses, Rs 1,000 per month for girls studying in colleges, an increase in welfare pension to Rs 3,000 per month, a family insurance cover of Rs 25 lakh, and Rs 5 lakh interest-free loans for young entrepreneurs.
State Finance Minister K N Balagopal told reporters that people are well aware of the guarantees made by the Congress party. “When the UDF was in power, the welfare pension was only Rs 600 and payments for 18 months were pending. People also remember reports that 24 persons committed suicide after being denied retirement benefits in KSRTC,” he said.
He said that during the UDF regime, many KSRTC buses were non-functional. “Now we release around Rs 72 crore to KSRTC every month for paying pension alone. Apart from that, we release Rs 50 crore every month for the salary of KSRTC employees. After proper management, KSRTC is now functioning properly,” he said. Balagopal said the LDF manifesto would be released soon. “People know that promises made by Congress were never implemented.
People in Kerala will not fall for their words. On the other hand, we have implemented all the promises we made, and they were completed by November last year,” he said.
He said that despite the Centre allegedly denying funds, Kerala has managed to survive, but the situation is very different in Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh.
“Himachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister recently went to Delhi, saying the state has no money to pay salaries. The announced DA and salary revision were withdrawn,” he said. Balagopal also alleged that in Telangana, where the Congress is in power, the chief minister had said salaries to employees cannot be paid on the first day of the month. He also claimed that appointments in Government departments have been suspended in these States. “They are declaring these guarantees not to implement them. It has to be taken only in that way,” Balagopal said.
Industries Minister P Rajeev said the public, after hearing the guarantees announced by the Congress, had started remembering the days when the UDF Government was in power.
“During the UDF regime, KSRTC was on the verge of closure. Where will the promises of such people reach?” he asked. Rajeev said that, out of the Rs 2,000 welfare pension currently given in the state, the UDF Government’s contribution was just Rs 100.
“Even that amount was only promised but not given. Only the LDF Government under VS Achuthanandan paid the pending amount. With such a history, these promises are being made,” he said. Transport Minister KB Ganesh Kumar said that if the guarantees announced by Rahul Gandhi were implemented for even two months, KSRTC would collapse and there would be nothing left to pay employees’ salaries.
“They don’t know about KSRTC as much as I know about it. Rahul Gandhi announced a similar free bus travel scheme in Karnataka. I saw a report that Karnataka SRTC is now under severe loss and crisis,” he said.
He said that when the LDF in its previous election manifesto promised Rs 2,000 welfare pension, Congress leader V D Satheesan had termed it a bribe to get votes.
“Now they have promised Rs 3,000 welfare pension. Is that not a bribe for them now? Will the people of Kerala believe the promises of the Congress?” he asked.
BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the Congress guarantees were merely political drama.
“They give tall promises to poor people. But after the election, they cheat people. This is the politics of the Congress,” he said.
He said that Congress Governments in Telangana, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka, which came to power promising welfare schemes, are now facing severe financial crises and development has stalled.
“The Congress party will go to any level to get power. It is not for development but for corruption,” he alleged.
He also referred to the farm loan waiver announced before the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.
“After coming to power, the CAG found that there was 30 per cent corruption in the scheme,” he alleged.
“Congress does this to get the votes of poor people, come to power and then indulge in corruption,” he added.
