Congress will give up to Rs 5,000 to jobless, homes to poor & write off farm loans: Ashok Gehlot

“If voted to power in Gujarat, the Congress government will give monthly financial allowances to the educated unemployed youth and will also provide free homes to the poor,” says Ashok Gehlot, AICC general secretary in-charge of Gujarat. In an interview to C L Manoj, he says the Gujarat Congress manifesto committee is also exploring job reservation for the economically backward youth among the general category communities: Excerpts:

After Alpesh Thakor, is your party is also working towards an alliance with the outfits led by Hardik Patel and Jignesh Mevani?
We are happy Alpesh Thakor has said he will join Congress. While there is no talk of Hardik Patel and Jignesh Mevani joining the Congress, what I can say is that all these leaders are working towards ending BJP misrule in Gujarat. The huge response Rahul Gandhi is getting shows the support to Congress-led fight against BJP.

On what major issues is Congress fighting this election?
The Congress is placing before the people a credible plank for development of the entire society. If voted to power, the Congress government will provide the educated unemployed youth with monthly unemployment allowances that will be go up to Rs 5,000 depending on the qualification. Since farmers are in a terrible state, the Congress government will write off their entire debt and also increase the minimum support prices of farm products. The Congress government will provide free houses to the poor. The Modi government’s decision on demonetisation and implementation of the flawed GST has played havoc with Gujarat’s industry and trading sections. The Congress government will ensure these issue are addressed.

Will Congress address Patel community’s demand for reservation?
I am in favour of a separate quota — in addition to the existing quota for OBCs, SCs and STs – for the economically weaker sections among the general category communities.

When I became chief minister (of Rajasthan) first time 16 years ago, my cabinet passed a resolution, seeking a separate quota for the economically backward in the general category communities, and sent it to the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. That was the first such proposal. I can say the Congress manifesto drafting committee is considering the proposal for an additional quota for the economically backward sections in the general category communities.

How will Congress take on the BJP’s development plank?
The Modi model of development is a mere hollow marketing trick and stands exposed . It helped only a few sections, especially some industrialists. That is why many social sections are now up in the arms against BJP. Even PM is talking less about the development model now, and instead spending more time attacking the Congress’ past governments. Modi ji and BJP have nothing to speak about what they have done for people.

Will communal issues dominate this election?
The BJP’s polarization planks before elections have run its course. The people of Gujarat, like the rest of India, are now extremely worried about the deepening economic distress created by BJP misrule.

Will the State Congress project a chief ministerial face in the Assembly polls.
The Congress is fighting the Gujarat elections under the collective strength of our leaders and organisation with the support of almost all social sections who are feeling betrayed by the Modi government at the Centre and the BJP state government. The Congress chief minister will be elected by our party legislators after the election results.