₹2 cr for martyrs, drug menace task force among Congress' poll promises in Haryana

The Congress released a detailed election manifesto for the 2024 general elections and promised to create jobs for retired Agniveers, restart the 'Padak Lao-Pad Pao' scheme for sportspersons and a Kisan Commission for debt relief for farmers.

The detailed election program stands alongside the “seven guarantees” already announced by the party. The guarantees include a doubling of Social Security pensions for the elderly, widows and the disabled ₹6,000 per month, a monthly stipend of ₹2,000 to all women, free electricity of up to 300 units for private consumers and subsidized cooking gas cylinders for ₹500 that the party had promised earlier.

According to the manifesto, a memorial will be constructed at the Singhu or Tikri border in memory of 736 farmers who died during the riots and the family members will be given government jobs.

“Cases registered by the BJP against farmers will be reviewed and withdrawn. A Kisan Commission will be formed to provide debt relief to farmers through loan waiver. The manifesto further promises that every grain produced by the farmer will be purchased with the legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP).

Haryana election observer and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, state president Udai Bhan and manifesto committee chairperson Geeta Bhukkal were present at the release of the detailed manifesto in Chandigarh.

Reacting to the detailed manifesto, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said that the Congress's “new government” in Haryana will end “the decade of pain” and the party has decided to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the people of the state .

In a Hindi post on X, Gandhi claimed that the BJP had snatched wealth, dreams and power from Haryana in a decade.

“The new Congress government will end the 'decade of pain'. It is our resolve to fulfill the hopes, aspirations and dreams of every resident of Haryana,” he said.

The party also announced recruitment of 200,000 people for government posts and formulation of a policy to accommodate Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam employees by increasing their salaries.

According to the manifesto, a fee of ₹2 crore and a government post will be given to the martyred soldier's family.

Temporary workers in the sanitary sector are taken on as permanent positions and employees who work in sewer cleaning receive an additional payment of ₹5,000 along with insurance of ₹30 lakh, it said in the manifesto.

A total of 21 welfare committees, including welfare committees for the Brahmin, Punjabi and Sunar communities, will be formed and reorganized for the betterment of various sectors and society. Unnecessary portals like Parivar Pehchan Patra and Meri Fasal Mera Byora will be closed, a Congress spokesperson said.

Manifesto committee chairperson Geeta Bhukkal said the BJP has released a 'Jumla Patra' while the Congress has prepared its manifesto after discussing financial aspects.

She said a separate state teacher selection commission would be formed to recruit teachers in schools. “Kisan model schools will be revived and model schools will be built in every block. A university will be established in Kurukshetra in the name of Guru Gobind Singh, a government university in Mewat and a major university in the name of Guru Ravidas,” she added.

Under the Indira Ladli Behan Samman Yojana, every woman between 18 and 60 years of age will be honored ₹2,000 per month. There will be 33% reservation for women in Haryana government jobs. The manifesto further promises that there will be 50% reservation for women in panchayats and local bodies.

Bhukkal said on the lines of Rajasthan's Chiranjeevi Yojana, a cashless insurance scheme will be introduced in Haryana for free treatment to up to 30,000 people ₹25 lakh.

Bhukkal said the recruitment put on hold by the BJP government would be completed soon. The manifesto also promises to reorganize the Haryana Minority Commission and elections for the Haryana Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee will be held soon.

The party has also promised to restore the old pension scheme (OPS) for employees and form a committee to address salary anomalies.