Claiming not to make “false promises” with the electors and instead being determined, the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Punjab unit on Thursday released its 11-point agenda for the May 19 Lok Sabha elections in the State, touching all aspects concerning the State.
The party, contesting its second parliamentary polls and eyeing to improve its previous performance of four out of 13 seats in Punjab, promised implementation of Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, setting up of agro-based industry, special package for industry at par with hill states, reducing and simplifying GST rates, among other things.
“AAP is aware of the issues and concerns people of the State are wrestling with, be it the distress of farmers and farm hands, the travails of the industrials and traders, the never-ending menace of drugs, unemployment, and so on. These issues need to be addressed sooner than later to bring the State back on the path of progress and prosperity. AAP will make no false promises to the people just to grab power, but would work earnestly and honestly to live up to their expectations. We are here in the public court with our five-year report card of achievements,” said AAP’s Punjab Campaign Committee chief Aman Arora.
Arora, releasing the party’s 11-point election manifesto, said that the party’s elected representatives would prioritize issues and concerns of the people and raise their voices to redress their grievances.
He said that the manifesto promised to take up the issue of beleaguered farming community with the Union Government for the implementation of Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, that is ensuring 1.5 times the cost of production, et al to provide the much-needed respite to the distressed community.
“The manifesto bats for setting up of agro-based industry in Punjab to boost the farmers’ income to stop the unending trail of suicides committed by them and farm hands,” he said.
Arora said that manifesto also aimed at providing relief to the industrialists by ensuring special package at par with certain hill states availing the package, besides stressing the need for ensuring 'one-country-one-tax'.
“The party would go the whole hog to press the Centre to start the freight corridor from Amritsar to Kolkata as may prove to be boon in disguise for the industry in Punjab which is in doldrums. The project has been hanging in the balance for years now due to the laidback stance of the Union Government,” Arora said.
AAP leader said that the party was aware of the fact that a large number of the youth was jobless and was left with no option but to go abroad in search of greener pastures. “AAP would bring in large scale public sector undertakings (PSUs) to the State to generate ample employment opportunities for the youth,” he said.
Besides, the party also promised to bring better and high-end health services by bringing more government hospitals at par with AIIMS and PGI to the state. In addition, the party would also stress for bringing high-end IIMs and IITs to the State.
“All-out efforts would be made by the elected representatives of the party to save Punjab waters, environment, ecology and soil,” he said adding that two-third of the MPLAD funds would be spent by the elected members on the peoples’ health and education among others.
