By Debopam Purkayastha
Guwahati: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched the party’s official election manifesto in Guwahati on Saturday. Rahul promises if Congress will come back in Assam they will revive two paper mills of Assam. Panchgram in Hailakandi dist and Jagiroad paper mill in Nagaon district. These two paper mills were closed in 2015 and 2017.
Among the key points in the official manifesto is assistance to women trapped in micro-finance debts, free yarn to weavers, revival of paper mills in Jagiroad and Panchgram which closed down during the BJP rule, farm debt waivers, ST status to six communities including the Tai Ahoms, Morans, Motoks, Chutias, Tea Tribes and Koch-Rajbangshis.
The Congress also promised to waive off farmers’ agriculture debts and women’s loans from micro-finance institutes, distribute kerosene and sugar through PDS, offer lunch at ₹10 and price a quintal of rice at ₹2,500.
Rahul also “guaranteed” five lakh jobs in the public sector, 200 units of free electricity per month for all and a hike in the minimum wages of tea garden workers to Rs 365.
