Liquor sale regulation to be in Cong manifesto

HYDERABAD: The Congress is likely to promise regulation of liquor sale, ban on marriages of girls below 18 years of age, free electricity to places of worship in its manifesto for the December 7 assembly elections in Telangana.

The 116-page manifesto, will be released by United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi at a rally at Medchal on Friday.

“The next Congress government vows to free people from the addiction of liquor. It is proposed that all liquor shops and pubs, permit rooms and belt shops will be regulated and controlled as per rules,” according to a copy of the draft manifesto accessed by HT.

“Toddy will be encouraged to provide employment to toddy tappers and stern action will be taken against those involved in sale of Gudamba (locally-distilled illicit liquor), adulterated liquor and drugs,” it said.

Prior to Telangana, the Congress had also promised liquor prohibition in Chhattisgarh in its bid to woo a large number of women voters.

In Madhya Pradesh, the Congress has promised that it will enforce the rule to close liquor shops, which are opposed by 50% of the women of that area. In Bihar, where the grand alliance of Congress-rashtriya Janata Dal and Janata Dal (U) promised prohibition, it won in 70% of the seats where women voters were higher then men. The JD (U) left the alliance and formed government with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Congress is also likely to promise amending the Child Marriages Act, 2006 to ban marriages of girls below 18 years of age. “The Congress will take all measures to protect the sanctity of all temples in Telangana. Small temples will be developed to provide all facilities to the devotees,” the draft manifesto said, adding there is a need to take special care of priests through a comprehensive plan.

A financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh to poor minority students for overseas education, increase in the financial assistance to 643 temple priests from Rs 6,000 to Rs 9,000 besides salaries on a par with the state government staff, salary hike to imams and muezzins to Rs 6000 apart from taking measures to grant the Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians are among the other promises.

The Congress is also set to promise waiver of all farm loans up to ~2 lakh in one spell, filling up one lakh government jobs within a year and increase of retirement age of the state government employees from 58 to 60 years, unemployment allowance of ~3,000 per month and filling up of one lakh government jobs within one year of coming to power.