· Gandhis have made sacrifices for country: Kharge
· Will ensure rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits
JAMMU, September 21: The Congress today announced that restoration of the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir will be its topmost priority after the party forms the government here in alliance with the National Conference.
Addressing a press conference, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge spoke about the seven guarantees declared by the party. He said that it was for the first time that a state had been downgraded to the status of a union territory. He said, the Congress-NC alliance government will restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Congress president said, providing good healthcare to people was one of its top priorities. In this regard, he announced a three-point programme for healthcare. This includes Rs 25 lakh health insurance cover for the family, affordable health services within 30 minutes with mobile clinics at tehsil level and a super-specialty hospital in all districts.
Kharge announced that once the Congress-NC Coalition government is formed in the state, the woman head of every family will receive Rs 3,000 every month. Besides, the government will provide interest free loans up to Rs 5 lakhs to the women ‘self-help’ groups.
The fourth guarantee of Congress party is for the Kashmiri Pandits. Kharge said the alliance government will implement the rehabilitation programme which was prepared during the government of Dr Manmohan Singh. He said, it was their rightful due and the Congress-NC government would ensure that they got it.
Kharge said the alliance government will provide all rights to the OBCs as per the Constitution. Besides, he announced that the government will hold a caste census as promised in the Lok Sabha elections. He criticised the attempts by certain quarters to suggest that the caste census was aimed at dividing people. He said it was important to have proper data to formulate welfare schemes for the people.
The Congress president announced sixth guarantee for the unemployed youth. He said Jammu and Kashmir had the highest rate of unemployment in the country. He said, unlike the ‘jumlas’ (false promises) of the BJP, the Congress government will fill one lakh vacant posts and provide jobs to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.
The seventh guarantee of Congress party relates to providing 11 kgs of free rice to the poor and needy, which has been brought down to 5 kgs by the BJP government. Kharge pointed out, this scheme was launched under the Food Security Act enacted during the UPA regime under the guidance of Ms Sonia Gandhi.
The Congress president condemned the politics of hatred and violence preached by the BJP leaders. He observed that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi was maintaining silence and the BJP leaders were feeling encouraged to call for violence against the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
He pointed out how one leader of the BJP had threatened to kill Rahul Gandhi, while another had threatened to chop off his tongue and yet another leader had described him as a “terrorist”.
Kharge said, neither the Congress, nor the Gandhis can be scared or intimidated. He pointed out, Gandhis have a tradition of sacrifice for the country, right from Mahatma Gandhi, to Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, all of whom laid down their lives for the nation.
At the same time, Kharge asserted, the Congress will not let the BJP intimidate or threaten its beloved leader, while warning of mass agitation.
Questioning the Prime Minister’s silence and inaction against these leaders, Kharge observed, he (the PM) was probably scared of them and that is why he was not taking any action against them.
