Cong manifesto blasts CPI(M) and harps on UPA achievements

Kolkata, Apr 9: Removing the Left 'monolith', restoration of democracy, developing industry and tackling unemployment are few of the promises in the Congress manifesto for the West Bengal Assembly polls.

Weilding a sledge hammer against the CPI(M)-led Left Front in the state for its ''all round failure'', the party picked up the anti-incumbency sentiment as well as the anti-poverty measures of the UPA Government at the Centre as the two broad issues to fight the Marxists, ruling the state for 29 years.

The 16-page manifesto, released jointly by Pradesh Congress President Pranab Mukherjee and AICC General Secretary Margaret Alva yesterday, put top priority on 'restoration of democracy' from what it alleged the prolonged 'autocratic' rule of the Left Front by putting an end to the all pervading writ of the CPI(M).

''During the 29-year rule of the CPI(M)-led Left Front the state has turned into a sanctuary of miscreants, criminals and anti-socials. The Government, especially the CPI(M), has grossly misused power to unleash armed cadres and anti-socials everywhere in the state to create a fear psychosis so that nobody can utter a single word against its misrule,'' it said.

Alleging that the whole administrative machinery had been used all through the present regime to ensure the victory of the Left Front, the manifesto made promise to restore the law of the land, allow the panchayats and cooperatives to function without any political pressure and maintain transparency and accountability in administration once the party was voted to power.

Claiming that about 65,000 factories had been closed and 700,000 workers thrown out of job in the state over the past 29 years, the party made a promise to take the state back to its past glory and strike a right balance between the growth of industry and agriculture.

It stressed the need for reopening the closed industrial units and tea gardens, modernisation of the traditional jute industry, promotion of handicraft and cottage industries and ensuring just price for farmers.

Seeking to bank on the programmes of the UPA Government at the Centre, the party said the Congress, under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, was working to increase GDP and remove poverty with an aim to making the country one of the world super powers. ''The UPA Government has given legal congnizance to the right to work. The Employment Guarantee Scheme has virtually turned to be a ''magna carta'' for the rural people,'' it said adding that ten districts of West Bengal had already been covered by the central scheme and more would come under its purview while 'Sarba siksha Abhijan' had been launched in states with central help to remove illeteracy.

Pointing at the Centre's efforts to modernise roads, sea ports and airports by inviting foreign direct investment (FDI)--an issue that put the Left parties at loggerheads with the UPA--the Congress called for the people's support for overall development.

'' The UPA Government at the Centre welcomes increase in domestic and foreign investment. Seeking to move towards this national direction, the Congress wants such investments and expects support from the people of West Bengal,'' the manifesto said.

The manifesto said the Congress would also work for restoration of the 'slumped' education system by setting up more institutions of higher education and technology and spread primary health facilities in larger areas of the state.

Hitting out at Ms Mamata Banerjee for a flopped move for an opposition unity in the state, the party said it was 'unfortunate' that the Trinamool Congress refused to sever ties with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and lead a secular democratic non-left front which could have removed the Left from power.

''Despite the people's demand it was because of the Trinamool Congress that no unity could be forged among the democratic, secular and non-left forces. It is up to the people to judge why the move did not materialise, '' it said.

Seeking the people's support to the Congress-led eight-party coalition of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), the manifesto explained that the party was fighting communalism throughout the country and it was not possible for it to enter into any alliance with the involvement of the BJP, as was sought by the Trinamool.

UNI