With just 10 days left for the Assembly elections on December 4, the Opposition Congress released its manifesto here on Tuesday, saying if voted to power, they would work towards developing a new Rajasthan focusing on education, health and administration.Releasing the manifesto at the party headquarters in Jaipur, Pradesh Congress Committee president C P Joshi said the Congress would ensure a peaceful and harmonious administration unlike the BJP Government. “There have been several incidents of police firing on agitating farmers and during the Gurjjar agitation. Crime has increased drastically in the last five years,” he added. Also included in the manifesto are promises targeting women, state employees and the youth. Senior Congress leaders admit that women and state government employees had played a crucial role in ousting the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress Government in the 2003 Assembly elections. In a bid to attract women voters, considered partial to the BJP because of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje’s popularity, the Congress has announced five kg of ghee for women after delivering their first child as well as free transport for all women on Raksha Bandhan. Keeping in mind the rising crime against women, the Congress has also announced that they will ensure women police stations in each district and women police personnel in every police station.State employees, who had revolted against Gehlot in 2003, have also got a significant mention in the Congress manifesto. Joshi said, “Government employees will be paid their Diwali bonus a week in advance and plots of land at discounted rates.” The manifesto also includes a promise of residential colonies for government employees at the district level as well as a special welfare package.The Congress also announced the creation of a youth board for sports in the state to scout for new talent. “Most voters are aged between 18 and 35 years, so we have to keep them in mind,” Joshi said. The Congress manifesto also promises the creation of an “overseas employment bureau” to promote employment in foreign countries and to help in the quick procurement of passports and visas.
