Haryana manifesto stresses on jobs

A Comprehensive plan to reach out to the unemployed youth and an inquiry into alleged corruption indulged in by Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala and his sons are the highlights of the Haryana Congress manifesto which is expected to be released tomorrow.

Sources disclosed here today that the 16-page document, prepared by a committee headed by former PCC president Birender Singh, has targeted the eight lakh unemployed youth registered all over the state to mobilise support. Just as Devi Lal grabbed power promising old-age pension and remission of farm loans in 1987, the Congress is trying to reach out to the unemployed youth for votes. And for the purpose, the party plans to focus on the proposed Employment Guarantee Act. It has also mooted the idea of imparting skills to the people followed by easy loans to promote self-employment.

The manifesto also promises the establishment of a state development council on the lines of the National Development Council headed by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

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In order to gain the support of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), the manifesto offers to review all cases registered against farmers during the Chautala regime. Birender Singh’s native Jind district had witnessed clashes between farmers and the police.

On the SYL canal issue, the state Congress has vowed to remove all hurdles in its construction. It has blamed Chautala for the delay in the project due to his friendship with Shiromani Akali Dal leader Parkash Singh Badal.