Former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Monday released the Congress manifesto for the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections. The party’s chief ministerial candidate Amarinder Singh as well as senior leaders Ambika Soni and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who led the team that helped frame the manifesto, were also present at the event in New Delhi.

“The election manifesto is a visionary document that promises the people of Punjab that we will undo the damage done by the previous government in the last ten years,” the former prime minister said. Calling Amarinder Singh a “visionary leader”, Manmohan Singh added that the state needed a government under his leadership to develop and progress. Amarinder Singh promised to end the drug menace in Punjab within “four weeks” of taking over.

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Highlights of the manifesto:

The Congress has promised a stipend of Rs 2,500 for unemployed youth in Punjab, reported The Financial Express. Amarinder Singh also promised to reduce the industry power tariff from Rs 7.60 to Rs 5. Under the ‘Har Ghar Mein Naukri’ programme, 55 lakh households will have at least one employed individual, Amarinder Singh said.

The party has also promised free textbooks to all students and 200 scholarships to study abroad for deserving students. It assured voters that there will be no political interference in police activities, reported The Chandigarh Tribune.

Economically backward Muslim and Christian families will get the same benefits that are meant for families that fall under the Scheduled Castes category, the manifesto said, also claiming that a new ministry will be set up for retired defence personnel as well as to ensure free education for girl students from Class 1 to PhD education, the report added.

The Congress will contest for seats against the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party in the single-phase elections scheduled for February 4. The votes will be counted on March 11.