 "From right to apprenticeship to legal guarantee for MSP, Congress releases manifesto 'Nyay Patra' with 25 guarantees")
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress on Friday released its manifesto promising right to apprenticeship, a legal guarantee for MSP, and passing a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs to name a few.
The manifesto ‘Nyay Patra’, which focuses on five ‘pillars of justice’ and 25 guarantees under them, was released at the AICC headquarters by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
#WATCH | Congress Party releases its manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, at AICC headquarters in Delhi.
— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2024
#LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/lNZETTLDLY
In its manifesto, the grand old party promised that the party will conduct a nationwide Socio-Economic and Caste Census to enumerate the castes and sub-castes and their socio-economic conditions and it will pass a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations for SC, ST and OBC.
Congress Party in its manifesto says that the party will conduct a nationwide Socio-Economic and Caste Census to enumerate the castes and sub-castes and their socio-economic conditions and it will pass a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations for… pic.twitter.com/DgK1plJ7Rt
— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2024
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe party also promised to bring a law to recognise civil unions between couples belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community.
The party said that it will abolish application fees for government examinations and government posts.
Congress Party manifesto: We will abolish application fees for government examinations and government posts. Due to widespread unemployment, as a one-time measure of relief, the amount due including unpaid interest as on 15 March 2024 in respect of all student educational loans… pic.twitter.com/3pUpS3z6wM
— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2024
“Due to widespread unemployment, as a one-time measure of relief, the amount due including unpaid interest as on 15 March 2024 in respect of all student educational loans will be written off and the banks will be compensated by the government,” Congress said in its manifesto.
Ensuring freedom of choice of dress, food and language for minorities like every citizen, the party said that it will encourage reform in personal laws.
“Such reform must be undertaken with the participation and consent of the communities concerned,” it added.
The Rajasthan model of cashless insurance of up to Rs 25 lakh will be adopted for universal healthcare, it said.
Congress said it resolves to launch a Mahalakshmi scheme to provide Rs 1 lakh per year to every poor Indian family as an unconditional cash transfer.
Congress Party manifesto: Congress resolves to launch a Mahalakshmi scheme to provide Rs 1 lakh per year to every poor Indian family as an unconditional cash transfer. The poor will be identified among the families in the bottom of the income pyramid. pic.twitter.com/HrScJacHnZ
— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2024
“The poor will be identified among the families in the bottom of the income pyramid,” the part said in the manifesto.
Talking about sports, the manifesto mentioned that the Congress will enact a separate legislation for the registration of sports federations/bodies/associations which will ensure full compliance with the Olympic Charter, allow for autonomy and full accountability, and provide recourse for members and sportspersons against discrimination, bias, sexual harassment, abuse, wrongful termination, etc.
Congress Party manifesto: Congress will enact a separate legislation for the registration of sports federations/bodies/associations which will ensure full compliance with the Olympic Charter, allow for autonomy and full accountability, and provide recourse for members and… pic.twitter.com/GjBBr4S2R2
— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2024
“Congress will provide sports scholarships of Rs 10,000 per month to talented and budding sports persons below the age of 21,” Congress said in the manifesto.
The party also promised to reserve one-half (50 per cent) of central government jobs for women starting in 2025.
Noting that the central government’s contribution to pensions for senior citizens, widows and persons with disabilities under the National Social Assistance Programme remains a pitiful Rs 200-Rs 500 per month, the Congress manifesto said it will raise this amount to Rs 1,000 per month.
It said it guarantees a new ‘right to apprenticeship act’ to provide one-year apprenticeship to every diploma holder or graduate below age of 25.
Besides, it said it will give legal guarantee to Minimum Support Prices (MSP) announced by the government every year as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission.
Congress Party manifesto: Congress says it will give a legal guarantee to the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) announced by the government every year, as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission.#LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/YGL5ECQiwW
— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2024
Congress said it will replace the GST laws enacted by the BJP/NDA government with GST 2.0.
“The new GST regime will be based on the universally accepted principle that GST shall be a single, moderate rate (with a few exceptions) that will not burden the poor,” read the manifesto.
It said that the party is committed to rapid growth and generation of wealth.
“We have set a target of doubling the GDP in the next 10 years,” said the Congress.
The grand old party also promised to amend the election laws to combine the efficiency of the electronic voting machine (EVM) and the transparency of the ballot paper.
“Voting will be through the EVM but the voter will be able to hold and deposit the machine-generated voting slip into the voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) unit. The electronic vote tally will be matched against the VVPAT slip tally,” it said.
The manifesto also promised to amend the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution and make defection (leaving the original party on which the MLA or MP was elected) an automatic disqualification of the membership in the Assembly or Parliament.
The manifesto also has a mention of improving relations with neighboring countries.
Congress Party manifesto: Congress says it will repair relations with the Maldives and will work to restore the status quo ante on our borders with China and to ensure that areas, where both armies patrolled in the past, are again accessible to our soldiers. We will take the… pic.twitter.com/2PMDrOTyGX
— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2024
“Congress will repair relations with the Maldives and will work to restore the status quo ante on our borders with China and to ensure that areas, where both armies patrolled in the past, are again accessible to our soldiers. We will take the necessary steps to adjust our policy towards China until this is achieved,” read the manifesto.
“We will immediately restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir,” the party stated in the manifesto.
It said it will launch an urban employment programme guaranteeing work for urban poor in reconstruction, renewal of urban infrastructure.
The party said in the document that it would abolish the Agnipath programme and direct the armed forces to resume normal recruitment to achieve full sanctioned strength.
With inputs from agencies
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
