The Congress on Saturday promised to rid Bihar of crime if it is voted to power.

In its 23-page manifesto for Bihar assembly elections, the party promised initiatives to establish social harmony and give a fresh thrust to development.

The Congress said it would make efforts for securing job reservations in the private sector for the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, backward classes and the minorities.

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The manifesto, jointly released by Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramjata Sinha and All India Congress Committee in charge of party's Bihar affairs Harikesh Bahadur, underscored the need for political empowerment of women and creating equal opportunities in jobs and education for the weaker sections and religious and linguistic minorities.

The document promised to work towards improving and strengthening electricity, railways, roads and other infrastructure facilities, besides encouraging private and government investment in the infrastructure sector.

The manifesto said the party would also work for implementation of an employment guarantee programme for the poor and modernisation of rural industries. It also promised strict enforcement of the Minimum Wages Act and raising the government expenditure on education to six per cent of the state's gross domestic product.

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The party also pledged to give a fillip to industrial development by encouraging setting up of agro-based industries.