RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said the INDIA bloc will scrap the Waqf (Amendment) Act if voted to power in Bihar. He promised to double panchayat allowances, offer Rs 50 lakh insurance to members, and boost regional development through new institutions and schemes
RJD leader and Bihar CM candidate Tejashwi Yadav (centre). File pic
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday, who is also the chief ministerial candidate for the opposition INDIA bloc alliance, said on Sunday during a rally that if the INDIA bloc is voted to power, the Waqf (Amendment) Act would be “thrown into the dustbin.”
Addressing back-to-back public rallies in the Muslim-dominated Katihar, Kishanganj and Araria districts, Yadav said his father, Lalu Prasad, the RJD chief, never compromised with communal forces in the country.
The Waqf (Amendment) Act was passed by Parliament in April. The ruling BJP-led NDA has hailed the law as a step towards transparency and empowerment for backward Muslims and women in the community, while the opposition has criticised it, alleging that it infringes upon the rights of Muslims.
“If we come to power, we will set up the Seemanchal Development Authority for the overall development of the region. A world-class university will be built here, besides a super-speciality hospital and a centre of the Aligarh Muslim University,” he said.
Panchayat raj
Yadav said allowances of the representatives of panchayati raj system will be doubled if the INDIA bloc comes to power in the state. He also announced Rs 50 lakh insurance cover and pension for them.
The panchayati raj system consists of three levels of governance — zila parishad, panchayat samiti, and gram panchayat. The chairpersons are known as ‘mukhiya’ (gram panchayat), ‘pramukh’ (panchayat samiti), and ‘adhyaksha’ (zila parishad).
“If the INDIA bloc is voted to power, monthly allowances of the representatives of Bihar’s panchayati raj system will be doubled. We will also substantially increase the margin money, per quintal, of distributors of the public distribution system (PDS) in the state,” Yadav told reporters here.
“Besides, we will provide Rs 5 lakh interest-free loans to barbers, those engaged in the pottery business, and carpenters in the state,” he added.
NDA copying promises
The RJD leader alleged that the NDA government was copying the election promises he was making. “We promised an increase in the old-age pension. The Nitish Kumar government increased it from Rs 400 per month to Rs 1100 per month. I promise, we will increase it to Rs 2000 per month,” he said. Earlier, Yadav had announced it will give “permanent employee” status to all contractual employees of state government.
Yadav had also announced “government employee status” to around two lakh ‘community mobilisers’ of ‘Jeevika Didis’ working in the state, and a monthly salary of Rs 30,000 for them. Besides, he had promised to provide one government job to every family in Bihar.
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