Elect Congress for development in Bihar, says Manmohan Singh

Araria (Bihar) Oct 16 (ANI): Describing Congress as party of the common man, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Saturday urged people of Bihar to vote in favour of the Congress to bring the State on the development path.

Addressing an election rally ahead of the Bihar Assembly polls here, Dr Singh said: " The Congress is the only party, which is committed to the welfare of aam admi and the weaker sections of society.

Dr. Singh said Congress-led Government at the Centre had also taken several steps to improve the lot of minorities, farmers and the downtrodden sections.

Dwelling on the issue of unemployment, Dr. Singh said if the Congress was voted to power, it would take major steps to solve the problem.

"The Congress is irrevocably committed for ensuring the socio-economic uplift of minorities, scheduled castes, farmers and other sections of the society," he said.

"Since 2004, till now, the Centre has given Rs 6000 crores and for 36 districts the Centre is giving special assistance. These funds could have changed the face of the state... power, roads, education could have been given to the needy but the government has not fulfilled its duties".

"You have seen successive governments during the past 20 years, please give the Congress a chance which alone under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi will ensure all-round growth," he added.

He further lashed out at the ruling JD(U)-BJP alliance and said Nitish Kumar government has failed to implement the development of the State despite all the funds from the Centre.

"The Bihar government had failed to implement the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), besides the special scheme for minorities in the State," he added.

Dr. Singh expressed unhappiness that in Araria district around 50 percent of the people were still living below the poverty line even after 63 years of Independence.

The six-phase polls for 243 seats begins from October 21 and concludes on November 20.

Counting of votes will take place on November 24. (ANI)