NEW DELHI: Ahead of the Haryana Assembly polls, the Congress on Wednesday announced seven guarantees, including the promises of a legal guarantee for MSP and a caste survey, if voted to power.
Financial aid to women, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities (PwD), the restoration of the old pension scheme (OPS), 300 units of free electricity, LPG cylinders for Rs 500, land for the economically weaker section (EWS), and a caste survey are among the slew of promises announced by the Congress under its 'Seven Guarantees' programme on Wednesday, ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections.
The guarantees were launched in the presence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan, former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and AICC senior observers for the Haryana polls—Ashok Gehlot, Ajay Maken, and Partap Singh Bajwa.
Kharge also announced plans to build a memorial in Haryana to honour the farmers who died in the farmers' movement and pledged to provide jobs to their children.
He explained that the guarantee programme is aimed at women’s empowerment, strengthening social security, ensuring a secure future for the youth, and promoting the welfare of families and housing for the poor.
Briefing on the guarantees, Kharge criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, accusing them of ruining Haryana over the past decade. "When there was a Congress government in Haryana, the state was number one in sports, agriculture, infrastructure, and per capita investment. Today, Haryana is surrounded by corruption, unemployment, deteriorating law and order, and anarchy. Congress is determined to make Haryana number one again," he said.
Under the ‘empowerment of women’ initiative, Congress has promised LPG cylinders for Rs 500 and a monthly payment of Rs 2,000 to every woman aged 18-60. Addressing the media, Bhan stated that to strengthen social security, the party would provide a Rs 6,000 per month pension for the elderly, disabled, and widows, and reinstate the old pension scheme.
In addition to 300 units of free electricity, the party assured free medical treatment up to Rs 25 lakh.
As part of the farmers’ welfare plan, Congress leaders vowed to ensure a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP). They also committed to conducting a caste survey and raising the creamy layer income limit from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
“There are two lakh vacancies in Haryana, the Congress government will fill all vacant posts as soon as it comes to power,” the Congress chief added.
Voting for the 90-member Haryana Assembly will take place on October 5, with the counting of votes scheduled for October 8.