Cong manifesto promises metro rail in Jaipur

The Congress manifesto promised metro rail for Jaipur city and to declare IT as priority sector. The manifesto however, remains silent on upper caste reservation.

The Congress manifesto for the forthcoming election in Rajasthan was released here on Tuesday. Released by the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Pradesh Congress Committee chief Girija Vyas and Congress campaign incharge Ram Niwas Mirdha, the manifesto sought to woo the youth, women, farmers, workers and the minority community.

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It promised metro rail for Jaipur city and to declare information technology as priority sector. The party revised its 1998 promise to provide eight hours of electricity supply every day for all agriculture works, making it applicable during Rabi season only.

The manifesto, however, remained silent on the contentious issue of reservation for forward castes. Flanked by Pradesh Congress Committee chief Girija Vyas and other senior leaders, Gehlot seemed to be indulging himself replying to queries about the missing issues.

To a question about the reservation issue missing from the manifesto, he said, "I have already given the message to the Centre and the Prime Minister has also accepted it. Now it is up to them."

The manifesto promised to set up a 50-bed community health centre equipped with all facilities at each panchayat samiti. It would have a physician, a surgeon, a paediatrician, an orthopaedist, a gynaecologist and an anaesthetist. Medical relief societies would be set up at the level of community health centres. At the district level, a 200-bed hospital with ICU facilities would be opened.

Those going for the interview for government jobs would be given 50 per cent concessions in State roadways buses. Employment would be generated through different programmes including watershed development, barren land development, and 30 per cent increase in irrigated areas.