No section ignored by government, claims Congress

Shimla, Nov 23 (UNI) The Congress today asserted it had not ignored the interests of any section of the society during its tenure and said the concept of social welfare had been implemented in letter and spirit in the state.

Addressing mediapersons here party's state general secretary Kuldeep Singh Rathore, said the BJP and the BSP leaders were leveling false and baseless charges against the Congress Government and the party in their election campaign.

''The Congress Government had given a financial benefit of Rs 650 crore to employees besides other developmental projects in various parts of the state.'' Refuting state's former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal's statement that the Rs 800 crore aid from the World Bank was loan, he said a sum of Rs 720 crore was grant-in-aid from the Centre, while the remaining Rs 80 crore was loan that had to be repaid in over 20 years.

Mr Dhumal is trying to mislead the people by issuing statements to the press in different parts of the state, he said.

Mr Rathore, who is also the party's spokesman, claimed that there was no anti-incumbency factor working against the Congress Government.

Replying to a question, he said that the Congress' manifesto was being prepared and would be released once the names of the candidates for 65 assembly constituencies were released in a day or tow.

''Issues concerning all segments of society will be included in the document and once the candidates have filed their nominations we will come out with party manifesto,'' he said.

Lamenting on the BJP's first list of candidates, released late last night, the Congress leader said the infighting within the party has increased due to this.

This would only get worse after the names of the remaining eight candidates were announced, he added.

UNI