Paanch Nyay, Pachees Guarantee Congress focus

New Delhi: The Congress' manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls would focus on "Paanch Nyay" and "Pachees Guarantee," the party said on Tuesday and resolved to take its promises to the people with a "ghar ghar guarantee" mantra.

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) which met here on Tuesday authorised party chief Mallikarjun Kharge to give final approval to the party's manifesto and decide a date for its release.

Speaking at the meeting, Kharge asserted that the country was seeking a change and the "Modi ki guarantee" touted by the BJP would meet the same fate as the "India Shining" slogan of 2004. Kharge urged all party leaders and workers to take every issue raised in the party's manifesto to every village and town and to every household across the country.

Before making promises in the manifesto, an in-depth deliberation has been made to ensure that these promises are implementable, the Congress president said, adding, “It is because of this very fact that, right from 1926, the Congress party's manifesto has been regarded as a 'document of trust and commitment'."

Kharge lauded the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, saying through it the Congress was able to draw the country's attention to the real issue faced by the people.

The party is fighting the elections on the issue of "paanch nyay" — "Bhagidari Nyay", "Kisan Nyay", "Nari Nyay", "Shramik Nyay" and "Yuva Nyay". The 25 guarantees, five for each nyay, announced by Kharge and Gandhi.

Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal said the manifesto will be released soon. He added that at the last CWC meeting before the Lok Sabha polls, which lasted for about three-and-a-half hours, discussions were held on how to inform people about the party's guarantees.

“We will have a massive guarantee to take the guarantees to the people of this country,” Venugopal said, adding that the Congress was confident of defeating the BJP. “In a democracy, people are masters, not (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi. People will decide who will rule.”

Congress’s communications head Jairam Ramesh said the party was ready for the elections. “Our manifesto will state our objectives and agenda. Ours is a nyay (justice) agenda. This is nyay patra (justice manifesto), not ghoshna patra (poll manifesto),” said Mr Ramesh.

The central election committee of the Congress met on Friday evening. Sources said that about 86 seats, including from Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, West Bengal, Chandigarh, Andaman, Puducheri, Karnataka, Telangana state, MP, Gujarat and Rajasthan were discussed.

Insiders claim that a total of 30 seats were approved. Eight seats in Bengal and 15 seats in Karnataka were finalised. Discussions also took place regarding Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim Assembly elections. The CEC cleared 18 Sikkim Assembly. The next meeting of the CEC will be held on March 21. The third list of the Congress is expected on Wednesday.

The manifesto of the Congress would focus on five "nyays" under which it has made 25 guarantees.

Yuva Nyay: ’Bharati Bharosa’ of 30 lakh central government jobs, according to a jobs calendar. One-year paid apprenticeship for all educated youths at Rs 1 lakh a year or Rs 8,500 a month under Pehli Naukri Pakki. Law to ensure government recruitment examination question papers are not leaked and better working conditions and social security for gig workers. Under Yuva Roshni, Rs 5,000-crore start-up fund.

Nari Nyay: Mahalakshmi guarantee of Rs 1 lakh a year for one woman in every poor family, 50 per cent reservation for women in new Central jobs and double salary contribution of the Centre for all ASHA, anganwadi, and mid-day meal workers, "Adhikar Maitri" in every village to ensure women get their legal rights, doubling the number of hostels for working women.

Kisan Nyay: Legal guarantee for MSP under the Swaminathan formula, standing loan waiver commission for farmers, insurance payment within 30 days of crop loss and a stable import-export policy to benefit farmers, no GST on inputs for farming.

Shramik Nyay: Right to health law that provides universal healthcare, including free essential diagnostics, medicines, treatment, surgery, and rehabilitative and palliative care, national minimum wage of Rs 400 a day, including all MGNREGS workers, employment guarantee Act for urban areas, life insurance and accident insurance for unorganised workers and stopping contractualisation of employment in core government functions.

Hissedari Nyay: Social, economic and caste census, removing the 50 per cent cap on reservations through a constitutional amendment, special budget for SC and ST equal to the share of their population, settling Forest Rights Act claims in one year, notifying habitations where STs are the most populous group as scheduled areas.