The Fact News Service
Chandigarh, April 22
Senior Congress leader and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) candidate from Chandigarh, Manish Tewri today cornered the Bharatiya Janata Party on the backbreaking rising prices across the country that have made life difficult for the middle classes. He asked, where are the promised “achhe din” and where is “vikas”?
He also announced that once the INDIA bloc forms the government, the educated youth will be entitled to one year guaranteed apprenticeship under the ‘Pehli Naukri Pakki’ scheme.
Addressing a series of meetings across different areas in the union territory, including ward no. 13 organised by Sanehanchal Charitable Society, here today, Tewari held the Modi led BJP government directly responsible for the backbreaking prices. He said, if the BJP government at the centre would have reduced the prices of diesel and petrol as the prices of crude in international market have substantially come down, the prices of essential commodities would automatically come down as the diesel prices have direct bearing on the prices of essential commodities as it adds to cost of transportation.
The former union minister pointed out, petrol during the last leg of the UPA time peaked at Rs 66 and diesel Rs 52 per litre while the prices of crude in the international market were $105 per barrel.
He said, while the crude prices in the international market have come down to $88 per barrel, petrol in India is selling for Rs 100 per litre and diesel for Rs 88 per litre. “Shouldn’t the prices of petrol and diesel in India be less now?” he asked the BJP.
Tewari said, this shows total callousness and lack of concern on part of the BJP government at the centre towards the common man. He said, if the benefit of the reduced crude prices would have been passed on to people in India, prices of other essential commodities would also have come down.
The INDIA candidate disclosed that while the inflation had broken all the records, unemployment in India right now was at 45 years’ high.
He said, the Congress and the INDIA government will address both the issues on priority basis. For employment, he said, there will be guaranteed “first job” for graduates and diploma holders, as they will be provided a one-year apprenticeship with a Rs one lakh stipend. He said, the Congress government will bring in a law, ‘Right to Apprenticeship’, which will entitle the fresh graduates and diploma holders to one year “guaranteed apprenticeship” with a monthly stipend of Rs 8500.
He said, the Congress has several other welfare schemes that will touch the common people and make a difference directly in their lives.
Tewari was accompanied by Chandigarh Congress president HS Lucky, Nandita Hooda, Kasturi Lal Mintu, Parvinder Kaur, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Anita Sharma, Youth Congress President Manoj Lubana, Rajdeep Sidhu, Rajesh Nandal, Parvinder Kaur Chhina, Monika, Alka Jakhar were also present.
