Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday sounded the poll bugle of the party for the 2022 Assembly election in Himachal Pradesh, slated for November 12, by addressing a rally here in Solan.
Addressing the ‘Parivartan Pratigya Rally’, Ms. Vadra hit out at the ruling BJP government in the hill State and accused it of failing to keep its promises to the people.
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Ms. Vadra alleged that BJP was only concerned about ‘big industrialists’ and not bothered about the common people. She promised that if the Congress party forms the next government in the State, giving jobs to youth and implementing the old pension scheme would be on its priority list.
“In Himachal Pradesh, several government employees have been sitting on ‘dharna’ for over two months now, demanding implementation of the old pension scheme, but the government continues to adopt an indifferent attitude towards their demand. Close to 63,000 government positions are lying vacant but are not being filled by the government. I promise that once the Congress is in power, in the first Cabinet meeting itself, decisions on filling of one lakh government jobs and implementation of the old pension scheme will be taken,” she said.
She also announced that the party would give ₹1,500 per month to women in a bid to help raise their standard of living.
Ms. Vadra said that BJP doesn’t have anything to offer to farmers, youth, women, small businessmen, and employees of the State. “The BJP can waive off loans of big industrialists, but when the employees demand pension under the OPS, they don’t have money. It’s time for you to ponder over what will happen to the future of the State under a BJP regime that disrespects its employees,” she said.
“Several irregularities and scams had been exposed in the last four years of BJP rule. The paper leak scam in the police constable recruitment examination among others has exposed corruption deeds of this government,” she added.
Congress in-charge for Himachal Pradesh Rajiv Shukla said his party will win with a two-third majority in the election and form the next government in the State.
Mr. Shukla said the Congress welcomes the Election Commission’s decision of announcing the election schedule for the State, asserting that party was ready for the polls, for which preparations had already been started. “Priyanka Gandhi will campaign for the party across the State in the days to come,” he added
During his visit ahead of the Assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh by the year-end, Mr. Modi launched a slew of development projects in Una and Chamba.
In Una, he flagged off a Vande Bharat Express, the fourth train in the series. Mr, Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III in Chamba to upgrade 3,125 km of rural roads.
Ms. Gandhi will also visit the Maa Shoolini Temple around 12 noon prior to the rally, a party statement said.
