News Brief
Sonia Gandhi.
Ahead of the Telangana assembly elections, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has unveiled a set of 'six guarantees' for citizens of the state.
These assurances encompass a monthly stipend for women, affordable cooking gas cylinders, and complimentary travel for women on Telangana State Road Transport Corporation buses throughout the state.
Under the Mahalakshmi initiative, Telangana women will receive a monthly financial aid of Rs 2,500, and gas cylinders will be offered at a subsidised rate of Rs 500.
In the run-up to the elections, the Congress party made similar pledges to the people of Karnataka, but they later contended that there were insufficient funds for development after coming to power.
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised such populist measures as "revadis" and ridiculed them as freebies. His critique extended not only to the Congress party but also to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has implemented analogous populist programmes such as free water and electricity in Delhi and Punjab.
Sonia asserted, "I, along with my colleagues, had the privilege of witnessing the birth of this great state, Telangana. Now, it is our responsibility to elevate the state to new heights... My dream is to see a Congress government in Telangana that will work for the betterment of all sections of society. Will you support us?"
Earlier on Sunday, In the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, the Congress party expressed disappointment with both the Narendra Modi government in Delhi and the K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) government in Hyderabad. They accused them of betraying the people of Telangana and criticized CM KCR and his family for establishing what they referred to as "family rule", governing the state reminiscent of the Nizams.
The Congress party underscored the imperative of rekindling the vision of a prosperous Telangana and fulfilling the people's aspirations. They called for a "Bangaaru" (golden) Telangana, where residents exercise control over their own future and have access to resources, water, and employment opportunities.