New
Delhi: Congress party president Sonia Gandhi on Monday
released the Opposition party's manifesto for general election
on the twin plank of more employment opportunities and a
focus on development. Addressing reporters at the party
headquarters here, Gandhi identified six basic tenets for
governance that her party would aim for through its 32-page
manifesto, if voted to power. These were promotion of communal
harmony to ensure social cohesion (Samajik Sadbhavna), employment
opportunities for the youth (Yuva Rozgar), rural development
to improve the economic and welfare of farmers and agricultural
workers (Grameen Vikas), economic resurgence (Arthik Navotthan),
women empowerment (Mahika Sashaktikaran) and equal opportunities
(Saman Avsar) for the socially underprivileged sections
of the society.
Describing
the "Back to Basics" manifesto as action-oriented and transparent,
Gandhi promised "a dignified place for every section of
society." The party would also be accountable to the people
if it failed to implement the manifesto in its entirety,
she said, adding she personally would review the progress
on October 2 every year. On the rural employment front,
she further added that the Congress would give a legal guarantee
of at least 100 days of employment every year at a minimum
wage for every rural household. On the question of agricultural
growth, she said that the party would seek to create new
job opportunities in central, eastern and north-eastern
regions of the country, which still needed to realize their
full potential in this sector. The manifesto also promises
to extend its policy of reservation for Muslims in Kerala
and Karnataka in government jobs and educational institutions
in the socially backward sections among Muslims and other
religious minorities on a national scale. She said that
as she and her late husband Rajiv Gandhi had contested from
Amethi in the past, it was appropriate that Rahul take that
parental mantle forward.
Samajwadi
Party releases UP list (Go
To Top)
New
Delhi: The Samajwadi Party on Monday released a list
of 59 candidates who will contest the 2004 polls from Uttar
Pradesh. Releasing the list in the Capital, the party's
general secretary, Amar Singh, said that actress Jayapradha
has been fielded from the Rampur constituency and Ram Gopal
Yadav from Sambhal, the seat once represented by the party's
leader and UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. Singh
said the names for the remaining seats in the state would
be announced later. He also ruled out possibilities for
seat adjustments with the Congress at this stage but was
not quite categorical in his answer. Asked whether his party
will put up a candidate from the Amethi constituency from
where the Congress has named Rahul Gandhi, the party General
Secretary said, the name of the candidates will be declared
in a few days.
Vajpayee
to address rally in eastern UP (Go
To Top)
Lucknow:
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will address a public
rally in Maharajganj, eastern Uttar Pradesh on Monday afternoon.
The rally is being seen as a significant as it is a stronghold
of the BJP. The polling for this seat will take place on
April 26. Vajpayee will also be attending meetings in the
state on March 24 and March 28.
Advani
Yatra to enter MP, Rajasthan today (Go
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Bhopal:
Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani's Bharat
Uday Yatra will roll into Chambal, Madhya Pradesh, today
where he will be addressing several meetings. According
to BJP sources, the yatra, which enters its 13th day today,
would traverse about 700 km within Madhya Pradesh and pass
through several parliamentary constituencies before moving
on to Jaipur, Rajasthan.
