In run-up to Chhattisgarh polls, Priyanka Gandhi promises Rs 500 subsidy per gas cylinder, loan waiver for SHGs

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday promised a slew of measures, including waiving of loans of Self-Help Groups, subsidised cooking gas cylinders under a new scheme, and free treatment to victims of road accidents if her party retains power in Chhattisgarh. Addressing a rally at Jalbandha in the Khairagarh Assembly segment, she also said around 6,000 government higher secondary and high schools will be upgraded to Swami Atmanand English and Hindi medium schools. She also promised up to 200 units of free electricity if Congress retains power. Khairagarh is among the 20 Assembly constituencies which will go to polls in the first phase on November 7. The remaining 70 constituencies will see voting in the second phase on November 17. Votes will be counted on December 3. “If re-elected in Chhattisgarh, Congress will launch Mahtari Nyay Yojana for women to provide Rs 500 subsidy per gas cylinder,” Gandhi Vadra said. After the rally, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in a social media post said subsidy of Rs 500 will be directly put into bank accounts of women. Loans of Self Help Groups and the loans availed by women under the Saksham Yojna will be waived, she added. She also said free treatment will be provided to the victims of road accidents and other sudden accidents under the Chief Minister’s Special Health Assistance Scheme. She said 700 rural industrial parks will be set up, which will take their overall number to 1000 as 300 are already operational. Tivara (a type of lentil) will be purchased from farmers at support price, she said. Outstanding Motor Vehicle Tax and penalty of Rs 726 crore till 2018 of more than 6,600 vehicle owners associated with the transport business will be waived, she added. Hailing the welfare schemes and achievements of the Bhupesh Baghel government, the Congress general secretary said people of Chhattisgarh were happy, while those in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, which too will see polls next month, were unhappy with their BJP government. “That government (in MP) made 22,000 promises, but did not complete even half of them and committed 220 scams. If such a government that does not work for your welfare comes for five years, then there will be no harm to politicians but your children’s future will get affected. Good schemes for women will be stopped,” she claimed. “BJP has been in power for 18 years in MP but they did nothing for women’s rights and safety. Violence against women is maximum there. Seventeen rapes are reported daily in MP. Two months before the elections, they launched the Ladli Behna Scheme and put some money into accounts of women. Do they think women are idiots,” she questioned. The Chhattisgarh government has worked for farmers, women, tribals, Dalits and everyone in the state, and Bastar, which was earlier known for Naxal violence, was now famous for millets, Gandhi said. “The Baghel government has been giving your assets back to you through various schemes. But what is the Centre doing? It is snatching away the same assets and handing them over to big industrialists like Adani. Ports, airports, railways and PSU are being sold to industrialists at throwaway prices,” she alleged. “We talk about equality, empowerment and representation of all. It is the thinking of our party, which was Mahatma Gandhi’s thoughts and vision that development of the country will not be complete unless rural areas are developed,” she asserted. Pitching for caste census, she asked how welfare schemes will be created when the numbers (of needy population and potential beneficiaries) are not known. The BJP says it wants the upliftment of Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes, but refuses when we (Congress) seek a caste census, Gandhi said. “The Women Reservation Bill has been passed. There was a lot of publicity but information was later received that it would not be implemented for 10 years. Publicity is being done but work is not taking place on the ground. This is their (BJP’s) politics,” she added. Slamming the BJP, Gandhi asked the audience if they would vote for the party that “misleads you in the name of religion and only bring problems in your lives” or for the one that “works to ensure your development and welfare”. She urged the people to vote for Congress for a better future for themselves and their children. She said there has always been a good relationship between the Khairagarh (erstwhile) royal family and the Gandhi-Nehru family, with Chief Minister Baghel, on behalf of the Congress, fulfilling that relationship and also heeding the demand to make Khairagarh a district. Congress has fielded sitting MLA Yashoda Verma from Khairagarh seat. The seat was won by Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) candidate Devvrat Singh in the 2018 Assembly polls. In the bypolls necessitated by the death of Singh, Congress managed to win the seat. Subsequently, the Baghel government carved out Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai district from Rajnandgaon.