Chandigarh, January 24
The election manifesto of the SAD which is being given a finishing touch will focus on political stability and unfold new schemes aimed at ‘‘resuscitating’’
agriculture and rural economy and accruing benefits to farmers.
Restoration of ‘‘dignity’’
of the Punjabis and the Sikhs, besides peace and communal harmony, will also be part of the theme song. The manifesto is weaved around the concept of cordial relations between the Centre and the state, cemented by political equations, which enabled Punjab to secure waivers on loan repayments and investment in mega projects.
The manifesto, on the one hand, will reiterate SAD's ‘‘old, original stand’’ on inter-state issues like the transfer of Chandigarh and Punjabi-speaking areas to Punjab, and on the other hand, stress that digging of the SYL canal will not be permitted.
Adhering to the SAD-BJP decision on the abolition of octroi and free power to the agriculture sector, the manifesto will promise to extend the scheme of ‘‘free’’ 100 units of power to the backward classes.
The main focus of the manifesto, however, remains agriculture and the social service sector. The new aspects added to the manifesto pertain to introduction of short-term agricultural debt insurance scheme on crop loans, one-time settlement of old debt of farmers by reducing the period from five to three years, impressing upon the Centre to extend the operation of the minimum support price to oilseed, cotton etc., and special incentive to encourage
diversification.
Sources said the manifesto promised to introduce marketing and export subsidies, besides laying stress on export processing, agro-industrial revolution and modernisation of sugar industry.
In the social services sector, the SAD has introduced the concept of self-employment for three lakh youth. Those entrusted with the task of drafting the manifesto have taken cognisance of the Congress charge sheet against the SAD-BJP government, released by Capt Amarinder Singh here today. The strategy to be adopted to counter this is likely to be discussed at a meeting of the political affairs committee in a day or two.
Though some broad contours of the Congress manifesto are reportedly known, the SAD is careful in wording and drafting its own charter. The manifesto has touched upon several issues, including a promise to remove anomalies in pay scales, continuation of social security schemes like ‘‘shagun’’ and payment of a variety of pensions.
In fact, the manifesto has taken care to have a separate clause for ‘‘development’’ of Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Ferozepore.
Education is yet another area that is getting attention in the manifesto. One of the proposals is to set up centres for computer education in all blocks.
