Congress manifesto a 'big joke', says BJP

Lucknow, Jan 31: BJP on Tuesday ridiculed Congress manifesto for Uttar Pradesh saying it was "nothing but a big joke" and accused HRD Minister Kapil Sibal of violating the Model Code of Conduct by announcing setting up of 500 schools.

"Congress talking about good governance and corruption free state in its manifesto is nothing but a big joke," BJP national vice-president Kalraj Mishra told reporters here. On Sibal's announcement of starting 500 new model schools, he said, "The Union Minister is unaware of the Model Code of Conduct. The Election Commission should take cognisance of this (announcement)."

Mishra said first of all Congress should give an account of Rs 1.76 lakh crore 2G scam, Rs 76,000 crore CWG scam, Adarsh housing scam and Rs 10,000 crore mining scam in Goa. Referring to Congress' promise of loan to farmers at six per cent interest, he said BJP has already announced loan at an interest of one per cent.

He said that while BJP has announced 20 hours power supply to farmers, Congress is promising availability of electricity for only 8 hours. "It is unfortunate. Can the green revolution they are talking about be achieved with 8 hours power supply?" Mishra recalled that in 2009 Congress had promised 24 hours power supply.

The BJP leader claimed that Congress did not exist in the state. "The party has conceded defeat and is not in a position to form government in the state," he said. "Congress vision document was division document and its manifesto is defaulter manifesto," he added.

PTI