BJP released manifesto on Friday, a day before first phase polling.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Friday claimed that BJP was forced to release its manifesto after Congress put pressure on it.
Rahul said in Anand, " We raised questions about Manifesto & BJP hastily prepared it behind closed doors. Congress asked for it so Arun Jaitley released it." He said that not releasing the manifesto so far showed BJP's arrogance. Rahul claimed that BJP thinks "they're going to govern here for 100 years", hence had no intention on publishing its manifesto.
On Friday, Union Finance Minister released BJP's vision document for Gujarat and said that the main focus is that the growth process shouldn't be hampered. But before that Rahul Gandhi went hammer and tongs demanding why BJP is yet to release its manifesto. "The campaign in half of Gujarat has already ended. Polling will be held shortly. But the BJP has not announced its manifesto yet. The BJP has not told you what it will do for you in the next five years," Gandhi said. "Modi-ji used to say that the BJP will rule in Gujarat for the next hundred years. But he is not saying a single word about the future of Gujarat at his rallies. "Instead, Modi-ji talks about Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and so many global issues. This election is not about Modi or (Rahul) Gandhi...It's about THE people of Gujarat," he said.
"The BJP is ruling here for the last 22 years. Now you have an opportunity to elect a government which would focus on you. People want to know what the BJP or Congress would do for them. While the BJP has not declared its manifesto, we held extensive dialogue with THE people and prepared our manifesto accordingly," Rahul Gandhi said in a meeting before BJP's manifesto was released.
All key demands of tribal communities, such as implementation of Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, filling up vacant posts reserved for STs, scholarships for tribal students and better compensation for land acquisition, have been included in the Congress manifesto, Gandhi said. Voting for 89 seats of Saurashtra and south Gujarat will be held tomorrow, while that for 93 seats of north and central Gujarat, including Chhota Udepur, wILL he held on December 14. Campaigning for the first phase ended yesterday.
With PTI inputs
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