30 pc jobs for locals, ending farm distress: Cong's Arvind Singh's plan for Gautam Buddh Nagar

He is all of 30, educated in the UK, speaks impeccable English and also recites with equal ease and adequate fervour Harivanshrai Bachchan's "Agneepath" and Shyam Narayan Pandey's "Chetak ki Veerta", both Hindi poems exalting bravery and courage.

Arvind Kumar Singh's announcement as the Congress candidate for the Gautam Buddh Nagar Lok Sabha constituency had come as a surprise for many, with a section of local old-timers in the party even getting upset for bringing in an "outsider".

A PhD holder, Singh had contested the 2014 Lok Sabha polls unsuccessfully from Aligarh. But this time around he wants to change that.

Since the Congress declared him its candidate, Singh has been on whirlwind visits to villages and city areas, reaching out to people with his plans for the district that adjoins national capital New Delhi.

"We have a 17-point agenda for Gautam Buddh Nagar," says the young politician, "including jobs, farm distress, flat buyers' issues, private school fees regulation and women safety among priorities."
He also wants Swaminathan Commission recommendations on farm issues implemented. "Farm distress is a major issue in the region. People's lands have been acquired, their compensations are either pending or are inadequate. The MSP (minimum support price) for crops is low, the situation needs to be improved."
"His government waived loans of the rich, while the condition of the poor and the farmers deteriorated in his own constituency. Could not they (farmers) have been helped by the government?"
Asked about future political plans, in case he does not win, Singh, who shares "Agneepath" being his favourite poem which talks about continuing even in the face of adversity -- said, "Happen whatever may, I am not going to leave Gautam Buddh Nagar. I am here only."