Ahead of the municipal polls in Gujarat, the Congress party has made one of the most bizarre election promises saying it would build ‘dating destinations’ and kitty party clubhouses in Gujarat.
In the party’s manifesto for the Vadodara Municipal Corporation elections, the Congress party has promised to build cafes that will serve as ‘dating destinations’ for youngsters belonging to the middle class and lower-middle-class families in Vadodara city. The manifesto was released as part of the party’s “Iconic Vadodara” promise.
Contending that such ‘dating’ facilities are the need of the hour, the Congress city President Prashant Patel said coffee shops or cafes are expensive, and youths from middle and lower-middle-class can hardly afford to pay huge bills. ‘We are in the 21st century, and it is our duty to promote a culture where our youngsters can sit and enjoy private moments without any fear’, Patel said.
He added that if voted to power, the Congress-led Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) will build cafes that can also be used as dating destinations. “These amenities will also generate employment for locals,” the Congress leader claimed. In addition to cafes, Congress has also promised to build clubhouses where women can organise kitty parties at affordable rates.
Ironically, the city of Vadodara is also known as Sanskari Nagari (The Cultural City) and Kala Nagari (the city of art) of India.
BJP says Congress trying to enforce Italian culture
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has criticised the Congress party, saying the manifesto is a result of “influence of Italian culture”.
“The Congress is known for making thoughtless comments during election times to lure voters by hook or by crook. Is dating a part of our culture? The Congress has no respect for the values of the Indian society,” party leader Sunil Solanki said.
The elections to six BJP municipal corporations – Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Jamnagar and Bhavnagar, will take place on February 21. On February 28, 81 municipalities, 31 district panchayats and 231 taluka panchayats will go to polls. Since 1995, BJP is ruling the municipal corporation in Vadodara.
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