Cong apes DMK, gives freebies in Karnataka

BROWNIE POINTS: Congress says the seven-point programme will be the central theme of the party's manifesto.

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New Delhi: In the run-up to the Karnataka Assembly polls, which will be held in May, the Congress has come out with a bouquet of promises.

Taking a leaf out of the DMK's notebook in Tamil Nadu, the party has promised one colour television set to every family Below Poverty Line (BPL).

Congress is also taking the Central Government's loan-waiver scheme one step forward by saying that if it is voted to power, all loans taken by fishermen, shepherds, potters, weavers and women self-help groups will attract a maximum of only 3 per cent interest.

The party also said that all dues under the Ashraya housing loans would be waived off.

And that's not all, in a bid to outwit the BJP, which has wrested the initiative by making similar poll promises, the Congress said it would provide 25 kg of rice at Rs 2 per kg for all green ration-card holders in the state.

Families below poverty line (BPL) are eligible for green ration cards issued by the state government.

"The seven-point programme will be the central theme of our party's election manifesto for the welfare of farmers and the poor," Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Mallikarjun Kharge said.

The party has also promised to extend the Yeshaswini health insurance scheme to all green card holder families.

Congress has offered to provide Rs 1,200 per month for two years to unemployed youth for skill training programme.

The three-phase elections to the 224-member legislative house are scheduled to be held May 10, 16 and 22.

Congress manifesto committee chairman Jaffer Shariff said the party's manifesto would be released before a mammoth farmers' rally at Davangere on April 13.

As part of its pre-poll campaign, the BJP's state unit leaders declared last month that the party would provide free power to farmers, rice at Rs 2 per kg and farm loans at 3-4 per cent interest rate.

Meanwhile, the JDS said that the two national parties are indulging in “poll gimmicks to woo the electorate.”

(With inputs from IANS)