Haryana Cong promises laws to curb honour killing, mob lynching

Just a week ahead of polling, the Haryana Congress today unveiled its manifesto with a promise to end illegal migrations through the “donkey” route and to introduce laws against honour killings and mob lynching. The party also vowed to establish a commission for farmers’ welfare.

The manifesto was released by former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, party’s state president Udai Bhan and election manifesto committee chairperson Geeta Bhukkal. Earlier, the party had released seven guarantees in Delhi.

There, however, seems to be no sign of truce among the warring factions as Sirsa MP Kumari Selja and general secretary Randeep Surjewala stayed away from the event. The party had sought to project a united face at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Assandh two days ago.

At the rally, Gandhi had flagged migration by state youth through the “donkey” route. Hooda, too, has tried to build a narrative around unemployment fuelling migrations from the state. In the manifesto, the party has promised action against immigration agents who send youth abroad illegally.

In 2019, the party had promised a law against mob lynching by cow vigilantes, an emotive issue among Muslim voters. Two years later, Deputy CLP leader Aftab Ahmed introduced a private member’s Bill in this regard but was turned down by the BJP government. The party has again promised a law to address the issue. The Congress has taken a bold stand by promising a law on honour killings. The state has witnessed 11 such murders from 2018 to 2022 (the data is available till 2022), according to the National Crime Records Bureau.

The party says it will reverse several BJP initiatives if it comes to power. It has promised to end “anti-people” portals such as Parivar Pehchan Patra and review the ‘Meri Fasal Mera Byora’ as also the Property ID system.

On the contentious water-sharing issue, the party says it will revoke Haryana’s agreement with Rajasthan and review the Dadupur-Nalvi canal project. The closure of the Haryana Kaushal Rozgaar Nigam Limited is also on party’s agenda. However, the manifesto states all employees under the nigam will be absorbed.

The party has further vowed to revoke the Haryana Panchayati Raj (Second Amendment and Validation) Act, 2020, which ensures the right to recall of sarpanches.

The manifesto says the e-auction of residential and commercial plots under the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran will be ended and the draw of lots system for allotments reinstated. Market fee on fruits and vegetables will be immediately abolished, it says. The party intends to revive the ‘Padak Lao, Pad Pao’ (earn medal, get job) scheme for sportspersons, which the BJP had modified in recent years.

The party says it will order investigation of scams during the BJP regime, and hold members and chairpersons of the Haryana Public Service Commission and Haryana Staff Selection Commission accountable for irregularities in recruitment.

As women constitute 46.8 per cent of the electorate, the party has promised Rs 2,000 per month, 33 per cent reservation in government jobs, Rs 6,000 as widow pension, and LPG domestic cylinders at Rs 500. Pink e-rickshaws and pink mini-buses for school and college-going girls, as well as free education until college, are also on the agenda.

For farmers, a law on minimum support price, crop insurance disbursement within 30 days, and a memorial to the 736 protesters who died during the farm agitation at Tikri and Singhu borders have been promised. The party will withdraw cases registered against farmers in the past 10 years and work towards implementing the Supreme Court decision regarding the Satluj-Yamuna Link canal.

For those in the age group of 18-29 years, comprising 23.4 per cent of the voters, the party promises to fill 2 lakh vacant jobs and establish fast-track courts for paper leak cases, as well as a policy for providing jobs to Agniveers.

In education, the party promises three universities and plans to set up a girls’ college in each constituency as also a separate selection recruitment agency for schoolteachers.

State moves Dera chief’s request for 20-day parole to EC

• Haryana has moved rape & murder convict Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s case for 20-day parole to the state EC. The chief election officer has asked the state if it falls under ‘compelling’ circumstances as per the rules.
• The dera head has frequently been granted furlough or parole around elections in Haryana or neighbouring states. He was last granted 21-day furlough on August 13 after which he had surrendered in Rohtak jail earlier this month.