New Delhi: With the BJP finally releasing its manifesto for the 2014 elections, a careful comparison of it with that of the Congress’ makes one thing very clear that if the saffron party’s document places before people the vision of Narendra Modi, the Grand Old Party’s poll promises are the expression of Rahul Gandhi’s experiences, which he acquired while having trysts with the various sections of Indian populace.
Since the Congress has made the process of formulating its manifesto interactive, as its vice president envisioned, it has been titled as “Your Voice Our Pledge.” Contrasting to this the imprint of BJP’s PM candidate Narendra Modi is quite evident, as the Saffron manifesto is title as “Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat (One India, Best India),:” which gives a sense that the party does not believe in “positive discrimination.”
Thus it means that when the Congress in its manifesto pledges for “secular, liberal nationalism,” the BJP has pitched for ‘aggressive’ nationalism, which will be ‘inclusive of all’ and will not make any special arrangement for any religious groups. Based on its own
perception about the brand of politics practiced by BJP and its leaders, particularly Mr Modi, the Congress for the first time dedicated a full opening chapter on the saffron party. The aim of this chapter is to make people understand, how the Congress’ politics and policies are different from that of BJP. But the BJP on its part has highlighted in bold the follies of UPA government led by Congress, which include policy paralysis, price rise, credibility, poor delivery of goods and services etc.
On several key issues including internal and external security, federalism, and other there are differences between the two parties, but only in terms of ways and not in terms of ends. Both parties want to achieve well-being of people.
