Mahagathbandhan releases manifesto, promises govt jobs, free power

The 32-page-long ‘Bihar ka Tejashwi Pran’ (Tejashwi’s resolve) released at a crowded press conference in the state capital, was, however, dismissed as “a bundle of lies” by the ruling NDA.

Tejashwi Yadav, the RJD leader after whom the manifesto has been named, said at the press conference that the document contained “25 salient points assuring practical solutions” to the problems faced by the people of the state.

“A new law guaranteeing employment would be introduced within 20 days of the INDIA bloc forming the government in Bihar and it will be implemented across the state within 20 months,” said the INDIA bloc chief ministerial candidate.

The manifesto also promises implementation of a law, on the lines of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, aimed at protecting extremely backward classes from atrocities. The law was first envisaged at an ‘Ati Pichhda Sankalp’ launched here last month by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Reaching out to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the manifesto says that if the INDIA bloc came to power, “every year, 300 students” from the depressed classes will be sent abroad for higher education on scholarship.

Another important promise made in the manifesto is that the INDIA bloc “will not allow in Bihar the implementation of Waqf (Amendment) Act”, implemented by the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, though steps will be taken to ensure “greater transparency in management of Waqf properties”.