No One Will Ever Believe Congress' Announcements For Maharashtra polls: Kiren Rijiju

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju expresses doubts about Congress's promises for the Maharashtra elections, linking Article 370's revocation to social benefits and urging voters to reconsider Congress's credibility.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kiren Rijiju on Thursday expressed scepticism about the Congress party's commitments for the forthcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections.

During a press conference in Mumbai, he emphasized that the Congress's promises would find no takers. Rijiju further escalated his criticism towards the Congress, especially targeting Rahul Gandhi's "Samvidhan Sammelan" initiative in Nagpur, accusing the party of disrespecting the Constitution and questioning its right to invoke Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar's legacy.

Rijiju's objections extended to the Congress's stance on Article 370, linking its revocation by Prime Minister Modi to the provision of reservation benefits in Jammu & Kashmir, a privilege previously denied. He argued this point to illustrate the misleading tactics of the Congress, advocating for punitive action against the party and its allies in the upcoming elections. "

Congress says Article 370 should be reinstated in Jammu and Kashmir. Due to Article 370, reservation facilities were unavailable there. Modi ji revoked Article 370, enabling reservations for the SC/ST community in J&K. Congress cannot mislead the public in this way. On November 15, we will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Bhawan Birsa Munda. In this Maharashtra election, Congress and its allies should be taught a lesson," Rijiju asserted.

On the other hand, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), during a rally, outlined five significant promises, including the Mahalakshmi Yojana, aimed at empowering women with a monthly assistance of Rs 3,000 and free bus travel. This initiative, announced by Rahul Gandhi, targets one woman per household, underscoring the alliance’s focus on women’s welfare. The MVA also laid out plans for the agricultural sector, proposing to waive loans up to Rs 3 lakh for farmers and offering an incentive of Rs 50,000 for prompt repayments.

The alliance didn't stop there; it also pledged to address social equity issues by promising to undertake a caste census and explore ways to exceed the 50 per cent reservation cap. Health and unemployment were also on their agenda, with promises of Rs 25 lakh worth of health insurance for all families and monthly support of Rs 4,000 to unemployed youth across the state.

These announcements from both sides highlight the contrasting approaches and priorities of the political parties as the Maharashtra Assembly elections, scheduled for November 20, draw near. With vote counting slated for November 23, the stakes are high, and the promises substantial, as each party vies for the support of Maharashtra's diverse electorate.