Congress releases UP manifesto, rides high on quota

The Congress party released its election manifesto for the state of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, ahead of the state assembly election, scheduled to begin on 8 February. The manifesto rides high on claims to transform Uttar Pradesh into a state with 11 percent growth in a span of five years, and also assures inclusive growth.With an eye on the Dalit votes, the party has promised sub-quotas to the Most Backward Classes (MBCs), and free legal aid to SCs and STs. The manifesto also promises one school in every village, and one intermediate college for every 2500 families. The manifesto was released in Lucknow by Union Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal, Congress state unit president Rita Bhaguna Joshi, and technocrat Sam Pitroda. Speaking at the event, Sibal said the party plans to establish 500 model schools, and residential schools for dalit and underprivileged students. [caption id=“attachment_199023” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“PTI”]  [/caption] The manifesto is primarily a reiteration of the Congress party’s earlier claims for the state that was released as a vision document for the state earlier last week. The party also pledged 50 per cent reservation for women in Panchayat elections. The manifesto also promised that every SC/ST family would be given Rs 10,000 at the time of their daughters’ weddings, while all SC/ST families below the poverty line would get free electricity connections. Speaking at the manifesto release, Sam Pitroda said, “Technology is the key element in development. It will play an important role in modernisation of UP.” “We are a nation of a connected billion. We are now making connected universities and are connecting 250,000 panchayats. Technology will play an important part in UP too,” Pitroda said, who is Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s technology and innovation adviser He added, “If india grows at 7-8 percent UP should grow at 11-12 percent”. Meanwhile, countering BJP’s claim of building a temple at Ayodhya, Sibal maintained that Congress is in favour of ensuring an equitable solution to the issue by saying “stick to the court order on the Babri Masjid.”