Congress Party announced unemployment allowance for the youth, guarantee for the upcoming polls at a public rally at Belagavi.

Belagavi: Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi on March 20, 2023, called on Party leaders in poll-bound Karnataka to fight the BJP in a united manner as he exuded confidence about “sweeping” the upcoming assembly elections.

The Congress Party also pursue the youth with promises of unemployment allowance — its fourth poll ‘guarantee’ — and filling up of vacancies in government jobs, in the event of the Party coming to power in the State, where Assembly elections are due by May 2023.

While thanking people of Karnataka for supporting his ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ and making it successful, Shri Rahul Gandhi took a dig at the BJP-led government at the Centre. “The Yatra sent out a message that this country belongs to everyone, not just to select two to three, not to Adani Ji. This country belongs to farmers, labourers, the poor and youth,” he said.

He dubbed the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government in Karnataka as “most corrupt in the country” and a “40 per cent commission government”. “We will fight the election together. All Congress leaders will fight together. Congress will sweep this election, because the BJP government is a 40 per cent commission government, and the people of Karnataka want to get rid of this government. They want a government that will work for poor, downtrodden, middle class, small traders,” Shri Gandhi said.

Taking into account the message of the youth that they are not getting jobs, the Congress has decided to give Rs. 3,000 per month to every graduate, and Rs. 1,500 per month to every diploma holder, for two years as unemployment allowance. He said, “We understand your (youth) problem and BJP is not giving you jobs.” He added, “The Congress government in the state will provide jobs to 10 lakh youth in five years, and assured that 2.5 lakh government vacancies will be filled up.”

Addressing the youth convention ‘Yuva Kranti Samavesha’ organised by the Party’s state unit here, he said, “We will defeat BJP together and make Congress win with a huge majority.” His message of unity to Party leaders and workers, ahead of ticket distribution, gains significance amid speculation that disgruntlement may surface within the Party following the selection of candidates. This was the former AICC President’s first visit to poll-bound Karnataka, months after the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, led by him, marched its way through parts of the state.”In the market of hate, lakhs of people had opened shops of love. This is our Hindustan,” he said.

During the yatra, he got two to three clear messages from the people of Karnataka. Shri Gandhi said that the youth told him that the state government has failed in providing jobs. Highlighting the major message he got from the people of the state during the Yatra, that the incumbent Karnataka administration is the “most corrupt government in the country” with a “40 per cent commission” sought in public works, Shri Gandhi said, “The letters written by the contractors’ association and school managements’ association to Prime Minister Narendra Modi complaining about the extortion charges ‘has not got the response’.”

Corruption is happening because all benefits are going to just two to three people, he said, while noting that he spoke about Adani (following the Adani-Hindenburg issue) in Parliament. “All the businesses and industries in the country are being given to him, whether it is airports, ports, roads, are all being given to Adani Ji. The same thing is happening here (in Karnataka). Select few people who are BJP government’s friends, all the benefits are being given to them. Because of this, there is rampant corruption in the state,” he alleged.

Shri Gandhi also urged the BJP government that it should fulfil its promise of hiking the reservation of SCs from 15 to 17 per cent and STs from 3 to 7 per cent by implementing it.

The Party has already announced three poll ‘guarantees’ — 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), Rs. 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), and 10 kg of rice free to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya), on coming to power.

Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge also addressed a massive public meeting ‘Yuva Kranti Samavesha’ in Belagavi, Karnataka. Addressing the large crowd, he asked the audience to remember a significant event that happened on this land, and reminisced the 39th Plenary Session of the Indian National Congress (INC) that was held in Belgaum almost 100 years ago, in 1924. Mahatma Gandhi Ji presided over this session as Congress President and Pandit Nehru became a General Secretary for the first time.

The Congress President underlined, “This is an important election for the state of Karnataka. These elections will give a message to the entire country.”

Attacking the Bommai Government he said, “In Karnataka, the contractors have complained about the 40% Commission BJP Govt. to PM Modi & Shri Amit Shah. But they have not bothered to investigate.” He underlined that, “The contractors of Karnataka have sent a proof to Modi sahab. But despite proof, Modi Govt. is not interested in any inquiry. This is because there is 100% corruption here. 40% goes to the BJP leaders in Karnataka and the remaining 60% goes to their party fund. This is 100% Corruption. Instead, they send police to the houses of opposition leaders.” Referring to the opposition demand of a JPC inquiry in Adani’s reported wrongdoing he said, “Shri Rahul Gandhi ji has asked many questions about Adani. They have no answers for that. That is why they have sent the police.”He further remarked, “Modi ji, try hard to bury us in the mud. But we are the seed, we keep growing again and again.”

Taking pride in the local heroes, he taunted Shri Modi and Amit Shah, “We belong to the land of Rani KitturChennamma …. We belong to the land of great warriors… we will fight this onslaught by Modi Govt of misusing ED, CBI, Income Tax etc.”

Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, General Secretaries Shri K C Venugopal and Shri Randeep Singh Surjewala, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress President Shri D K Shivakumar, Legislature Party leader and Leader of the Opposition Shri Siddaramaiah among several leaders were part of the mega rally.