New Delhi: Keeping “Nyay” or the minimum income guarantee promise of Rs 72,000 per household as the mainstay of its Lok Sabha poll manifesto, the Congress on Tuesday promised a slew of other welfare measures including a separate budget for farmers, filling up 22 lakh government vacancies, free education, improved healthcare and fixing a single moderate GST rate.
Releasing the a 55-page document titled Congress Will Deliver, party president Rahul Gandhi gave a new slogan Garibi pe war, bahatar hazar and said that on winning the parliamentary polls the party will come out with a separate budget for farmers, fill up 22 lakh government vacancies, allocate 6 per cent of GDP to education, ensure 50 more days of guaranteed jobs from current 100 days under the Mnrega, boost healthcare infrastructure and enhance safety of women.
“Our manifesto process reflects our commitment to a higher vision, that of listening to the jan awaaz. It is not the mann ki baat of one individual but the collective voice of lakhs of people,” he said, in a preface of the manifesto, taking a dig at the ruling BJP which he said had spread hate across the country.
While the income guarantee scheme, Nyay, has been touted as a political game changer, the Congress manifesto has also fallen back on old style welfare economics to woo voters ahead of the general elections.
With this manifesto, Mr Gandhi said the Congress has offered to people “the only national alternative — a distinct alternative that is unwavering in its commitment to truth, freedom, dignity, self-respect and prosperity for our people”.
The manifesto also promised to investigate procurement of Rafale fighter jets and several other deals under the BJP government and said, if voted to power, the party will enforce anti-corruption laws without discrimination.
Apart from raising defence spending, the Congress vowed to make the office of National Security Advisor as well as the National Security Council accountable to Parliament, and define their powers under the law.
The party also promised to “revitalise” institutions like Reserve Bank of India, Election Commission, CBI, CIC, saying the Congress will restore their dignity, authority and autonomy while making them accountable to Parliament.
The party also promised to decriminalise defamation and sedition, amend laws that allow detention without trial, pass prevention of torture bill and amend Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) to balance the requirements of security and the protection of human rights.
On Jammu and Kashmir, it said that nothing will be done or allowed to change the constitutional position on Kashmir and that enforcement of the AFSPA in the state will be reviewed.
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