Ahmedabad: Former Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, who has launched a new political party after quitting the BJP on Sunday promised to take a slew of welfare measures if voted to power in the forthcoming assembly polls.
Keshubhai, who floated Gujarat Parivartan Party last week, today said that his party would take measures like giving allowance for the unemployed youth (upto Rs 2,000), pass a new law to regularise pastoral land holdings and form special police squads for protection of cow progeny if voted to power.
Assembly elections in Gujarat are due in December this year.
Alleging that Modi government has adopted 'anti-youth policy' Keshubhai said, "even after getting costly education, youths in the state are struggling to get decent jobs. We will give allowance to these youths for two years."
Commenting on the contentious issue of cow slaughter, Patel said that increase in cow slaughter cases was fallout of deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
"If my party comes to power, we will create special police squads for the protection of cow progeny in every district," he said.
According to Patel, the proposed measures will cost the state exchequer around Rs 4,100 crore which could be arranged by collecting payments overdue to the state from big industrial groups like Essar.
Keshubhai slammed the state Chief Minister Narendra Modi for indulging in publicity blitzkrieg, while certain pockets of the state were passing through drought like conditions.
"While more than 80 per cent of area has deficient rains and we are facing drought, our Chief Minister is wasting money on fairs, yatras and inauguration ceremonies," he said.
Keshubhai Patel, who had brought BJP to power in Gujarat in 1995, had resigned following differences with Modi and launched a new party.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, August 12, 2012, 22:14