We deliver, not make promises at Ramlila Maidan: Chacko

Mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the AAP, the Congress said on Friday that it does not believe in making big announcements from Ramlila Maidan but making “achievable” poll promises based on studies.

Soon after the release of the Congress manifesto for the February 7 Assembly poll, All India Congress Committee general secretary and in-charge of Delhi affairs P C Chacko told reporters: “The Congress manifesto is a document which carries weight over tall promises made at poll rallies.”

In an indirect attack on Modi and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal’s promise of cutting power bills by half, he said making announcements at Ramlila Ground and actually including the promises in the manifesto were two different things.

No other party has done so yet, he said, adding the Congress does not make tall promises from rallies.

“We are committed to delivering on all the promises which we have listed in the manifesto,” he said, accusing the rival parties of only making verbal promises and not giving in writing to the voters that they will actually fulfil them.

“The party has not made any promise in its manifesto which is not achievable. All promises on enhancement of water supply through laying down fresh pipelines and saving Yamuna through treatment of sewage are based on studies,” he said.

Chacko said the manifesto answers the questions that people are asking.In-charge of Congress campaign committee Ajay Maken said there were attempts being made to mislead voters into believing in promises that are not feasible.

“People should not ask what you will give us but how you will give us,” said Maken.

Countering Modi’s announcement on introducing power distribution companies’ portability in the city, Maken, who himself is a former Delhi power minister, said: “The provision of open access system – which allows more than one power distribution company in an area – was introduced by the UPA in the Electricity Act.”