Sibal releases Cong manifesto for Goa elections

Panaji, May 21: Union Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal here today released what is claimed to be ''the people-centric and development-oriented'' Congress manifesto, reflecting the aspirations and expectations of the people of Goa for the first time.

Asking the people to vote for a party that has ensured stability at the Centre and strong Centre-State relations in the federal structure, besides striving for human development in the globalised era, Mr Sibal said India was passing through a ''tumultuous phase with some forces raising their ugly heads''.

Stating that the party had made many mistakes and that it had learnt several lessons, the Minister said great successes in the world were achieved through failures as ''failures are the stepping stone for success''.

''We need a firm and stable government with investments in social sectors like education and health and empowerment of women and children so that India is in the forefront of glogal race of progress,'' he said.

Eulogising Goa's achievements in various fronts like infrastructure, health and per capita income, Mr Sibal asked other states to emulate Goa in embracing its kaleidoscopic vision and culture for progress.

Recalling the vision of former Prime Minister slain Rajiv Gandhi in connection with the latter's 16th death anniversary, the senior Congress leader said Rajiv Gandhi would have been delighted to hear about the project in Goa to provide every house with broadband connectivity.

He also remembered the first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru who, he said, was responsible for opening Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) that have now been contributing to the technological growth of the country.

''Vision of these greatmen takes our country forward,'' he added.

According to AICC general secretary Margaret Alva, the manifesto lists how Congress stood for development of Goa, achievements of its government during the past 22 months and its vision of next five years in making 'Golden Goa' by the year 2012, when it would celebrate its golden jubilee of its liberation from the Portuguese yoke.

Chief Minister Pratrapsinh Rane, GPCC president Ravi Naik, NCP general secretary Gurunath Kuklarni, AICC secretries Sidharth Patel and Ramchandra Khuntia and Shanratam Naik, besides several ministers and party leaders, participated in the function.

Uday Bhembre, a noted journalist who drafted the manifesto in English, Konkani and Marathi, explained the salient features of the document, saying it exposed the hollowness of the BJP and the strengths of the Congress.

The manifesto, he said, was drafted after consulting all sections of society to make it virtually ''people oriented'' for the first time in Goa, reflecting their aspirations and expectations.

UNI

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