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Key promises in Congress manifesto for Lok Sabha polls
Releasing its manifesto for a staggered general election that starts on April 11, Congress highlighted job creation, tackling farm distress and empowerment of women among its top priorities.
New Delhi
The Congress on Tuesday released its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections with its president Rahul Gandhi describing it as the "voice of people".
“The main issues in the country today are unemployment and farmer distress,” said Gandhi, releasing the manifesto. “The economy is jammed, and everyone agrees that India’s economy is stuck, so that needs to be restarted.
Senior party leader P Chidambaram asserted that "wealth and welfare" is the manifesto's central theme.
Rahul Gandhi was joined by other top party leaders, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, as the opposition party unveiled its manifesto.
Chidambaram said real issues in the country are unemployment, farmer distress and women's safety among others and accused the ruling BJP of trying to take narrative to hyper nationalism.
Singh said the manifesto's purpose is to spell out the vision for the country to move towards forward-looking and inclusive economy and polity.
Jammu and Kashmir: AFSPA to be reviewed, Article 370 to be untouched, Reduce Armed personnel presence, fair state legislative elections
In the 55-page document, titled 'Hum Nibhayenge' (Congress will deliver), released on Tuesday, the party dedicated separate sections to Jammu and Kashmir and Northeastern states.
The Congress has promised in its manifesto for the April-May parliamentary election that nothing will be done or allowed to change the constitutional position on Kashmir and that enforcement of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Jammu and Kashmir will be reviewed.
In significant proposals, the Congress promised to review the deployment of armed forces, move more troops to the border to stop infiltration completely, reduce the presence of the Army and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in the Kashmir Valley, and entrust more responsibility to the J&K police for maintaining law and order.
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the Disturbed Areas Act in J&K will be reviewed, the party said, adding that suitable changes will be made in the text of the laws to balance the requirements of security and the protection of human rights.
In a politically significant pitch, the party also promised free and fair elections to the state legislative assembly to be held immediately.
Northeastern India: Restore 'Special Category' status, immediate withdrawal of Citizenship Amendment Bill, solve illegal immigration and mediate boundary issues through dialogue with neighbours
The party also made a slew of promises for the Northeastern states with the most significant among them being restoring the special category status to them.
The Congress also promised immediate withdrawal of the "widely resented" Citizenship Amendment Bill introduced by the BJP government "against the wishes" of the people of the Northeast, according to the manifesto.
"We will ensure that no citizen of India is denied inclusion in the final National Register of Citizens," the party said.
The Congress said it will address the issue of illegal immigration into the Northeast through consultation with the states and evolve a consensus on the legislative measures that will secure the identity of the indigenous communities.
"We will also engage the neighbouring countries, Bangladesh and Myanmar, to address and resolve the issue of illegal immigration into India," the party said.
The Congress said it will strengthen the security of the borders with Bangladesh, Myanmar and China, resolve any border issues through dialogue.
The party said it will resolve the pending inter-state issues, including boundary issues, in the Northeast through dialogue or mediation.
Puducherry: Full statehood proposal, amend laws to restrict Lieutenant Governor's powers
The Congress on Tuesday assured full statehood to Puducherry but stopped short of making the same commitment for Delhi if it comes to power.
In its manifesto, it promised to amend the Government of NCT of Delhi Act, 1991 so the lieutenant governor acts on the aid and advice of the council of ministers, except in matters concerning the "three reserved subjects", a clear reference to land, police and public order.
Delhi and Puducherry have legislative assemblies but do not enjoy the powers of a full states. The lieutenant governor plays a critical role in administering Delhi and Puducherry.
- Laws to restrict Lieutenant Governor's powers will also be effective in Delhi
"Congress promises to amend the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 to make it clear that the Lieutenant Governor shall act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers except in matters concerning the 3 reserved subjects," the Congress manifesto stated under the 'Federalism and Centre-State relations' section.
- The party will also give 'Special Category' status to Andhra Pradesh, the manifesto added.
Laws to prevent, punish mob-engineered hate crimes
The Congress on Tuesday said it will pass a new law in the first session of the next Lok Sabha to prevent and punish hate crimes such as "mob-engineered" lynching, stripping and burning if voted to power.
The proposed law will contain provisions to compensate victims and to hold the police and district administration accountable for proven negligence, the party said in its election manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
"We will pass a new law in the first session of the 17th Lok Sabha and in the Rajya Sabha to prevent and punish hate crimes such as mob-engineered stripping, burning and lynching," the party said.
Decriminalise Sedition, Defamation laws
Also, under the section of review of laws, rules and regulation in its manifesto, the Congress proposed to omit Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code that defines the offence of 'sedition', saying it has been "misused" and become "redundant because of subsequent laws".
The party called for decriminalising laws that are essentially laws directed against civil violations and can be subjected to civil penalties.
It also pitched for omitting Section 499 of the Indian Penal Code and making 'defamation' a civil offence, according to the manifesto.
Amend Press Council of India Act: Curb the menace of fake news and paid news
On the issue of media freedom, the Congress alleged that sections of the media have "abused or surrendered their freedom" in recent times.
"Nevertheless, we believe that self-regulation is the best way to correct the abuse of media freedom. Congress promises to amend the Press Council of India Act, 1978 to strengthen the system of self-regulation, protect the freedom of journalists, uphold editorial independence and guard against government interference," the party said.
The Congress said it will amend the Press Council of India Act to empower the Council to deal with the menace of fake news and paid news.
Rafale probe
The Congress has promised to investigate procurement of Rafale fighter jets and several other deals under the BJP government and said it, if voted to power, would enforce anti-corruption laws without discrimination.
"Congress will enforce anti-corruption laws without discrimination. Congress will cause to be investigated several deals entered into by the BJP government in the last 5 years and, in particular, the Rafale deal," the party said in its manifesto.
Minimum income guarantee scheme
On the party's showpiece minimum income guarantee scheme or Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY), the party's manifesto promised to give Rs 72,000 per year to the poorest 20 per cent households in India.
Loan waiver for farmers
For farmers, Congress promised to put them on the path from "Karz Maafi" (loan waiver), to "Karz Mukti" (freedom from loans).
This will be done through remunerative prices, lower input costs, and assured access to institutional credit, the party said, adding it will present a separate "Kisan Budget" every year, if voted to power.
6% GDP for healthcare and education, Right to Healthcare Act
Speaking on the occasion at the Congress headquarters here, Gandhi said the Congress will allocate 6 per cent of GDP to education, strengthen government hospitals and give high-quality healthcare access to poor if voted to power.
The party also promised to enact the Right to Healthcare Act and guarantee every citizen free diagnostics, out-patient care, free medicines and hospitalisation, through a network of public hospitals and enlisted private hospitals.
Tackling Employment Crisis
To the youth of India, Congress pledged to make jobs its top priority, saying it will ensure 34 lakh jobs in the public sector by filling all 4 lakh central government vacancies before March 2020, persuading the state governments to fill 20 lakh vacancies and creating an estimated 10 lakh new Seva Mitra positions in every gram panchayat and urban local bodies.
The party said it will also provide a fillip to private sector by incentivising businesses for jobs creation and employing more women.
'A Single moderate GST'
On GST tax, the Congress said it will radically simplify the GST regime with a single moderate rate of tax, zero rating of exports, and exemption for essential goods and services.
It also promised panchayats and municipalities a share of GST revenues.
Increase defence spending
The Congress, it said, will reverse the trend of declining defence spending under the NDA government, and increase it to meet the requirements of the Armed Forces.
"We will expedite all modernisation programmes of the Armed Forces in a transparent manner. We will improve social security, education and health facilities for our Paramilitary Forces and families," the party said.
Compulsory and free education from Class I to Class XII
On education, Congress promised that school education from Class I to Class XII in public schools shall be compulsory and free.
Scrap NEET, replace it with State-level examinations
Congress party has promised to scrap the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).
“The NEET examination is discriminatory against students from certain States. In addition, it interferes with the State Government’s right to admit students domiciled in the State to medical colleges in that State. Hence, we will take measures to dispense with the NEET examination and substitute it with a State-level examination of equivalent standard, approved by the competent authority for admission to medical colleges in that State,” the party’s manifesto said.
Women's Reservation Bill
The party promised to pass in the first session of the 17th Lok Sabha the Women's Reservation Bill reserving 33 percent of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies.
"Congress will also reserve 33 percent of all posts/vacancies in the Central government for women," it said.
The seven-phase Lok Sabha polls will begin on April 11 and the counting of votes will take place on May 23.
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