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Cong vows law on hate crimes; BJP asks why mum on UP crime

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Press Trust of India Lucknow
Last Updated : Feb 08 2017 | 6:22 PM IST
Congress today promised a new law on hate crimes in its manifesto for UP Assembly elections and announced sops for women, OBCs and minorities, but its "silence on corruption and crime situation" was mocked at by BJP.
The 12-page manifesto condemned BJP's "anti-poor and anti-people policies", saying, "Divisive forces run rampant with impunity across the country...To combat these forces our two great parties (SP-Congress) have allied."
It described its coming together with Samajwadi Party as "an important moment" in the history of country's politics.
Noting that BJP's "agenda of hatred and divisiveness becomes clearer with every election", the manifesto pledged to enact a new law on hate crimes to provide enhanced punishment to those who create tension on basis of caste, gender and religion.
Hours after Congress released the document at a press conference here, BJP state General Secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak said the party was "silent" on "corruption, poor law and order situation and illegal mining" in the state.
Pathak said these were the issues Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi had vociferously raised during his Deoria-to- Delhi Kisan Yatra and Khat Sabha.

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"What happened to the party (Congress) now? Has it forgotten these issues? Or has it totally surrendered itself before Samajwadi Party, against whose government it was making vitriolic attack until recently," he wondered.
Replying to a query, AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi
Azad objected to BJP including the issues of triple talaq and Ram temple in its manifesto and demanded that the Supreme Court and the Election Commission initiate action against the saffron party in this regard.
"BJP is raising disputed issues with the aim to polarise votes in the upcoming Assembly polls in the state," Azad said.
The Congress manifesto vowed to appoint a police ombudsman to handle cases of police oppression and set up a Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to ensure relief for victims of criminal oppression.
For safety of women, it said the law passed by erstwhile UPA government would be implemented effectively against anyone guilty of atrocities and crimes against women.
It promised to launch Kanya Sanshaktikaran Yojana to ensure Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh for every girl child when she turns 18, besides scholarships for pursuing higher studies.
The party also vowed to give 50 per cent reservation to women in panchayat elections, loan waivers for farmers and cheaper electricity, jobs to 50 lakh youths and promoting entrepreneurship among youth, particularly the minorities.
It proposed to reform the Mandi system while optimising fertiliser distribution in the state and promised farmers that they will be provided returns over and above the MSP announced by the Centre by establishing an Agricultural Price Commission.

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First Published: Feb 08 2017 | 6:22 PM IST

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