Elections 2019: Congress Manifesto Promises to Marry ‘Wealth and Welfare’

New Delhi: Releasing the Congress party’s election manifesto here for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, party president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday promised to marry ‘welfare and wealth’, with the slogan ‘Hum Nibhayenge’ (We Will Deliver’, in answer to BJP’s slogan of ‘Mumkin Hai’ (It is Possible).

The plethora of promises in the Congress’s manifesto include Rs 72,000 each annually to five crore poorest families under the minimum income guarantee scheme – NYAY, a single slab goods and services tax, filling up of 22 lakh government vacancies, 150 days of jobs under rural job guarantee scheme MGNREGA, a separate farmer’s budget, spending 6% of GDP on education and focus on national and internal security, among others.

“We will not treat loan default by farmers as criminal offence”, said Rahul Gandhi,

Citing misuse and redundancy, the party also said that if voted to power, it would scrap the British era sedition law. It may be recalled that in the past five years under Narendra Modi-led BJP rule, several student and human rights activists, writers and journalists have been booked under this law.

The 53-page manifesto also includes review of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the Disturbed Areas Act in Jammu and Kashmir. The party said it would make suitable changes in the text of the laws to balance requirements of security and the protection of human rights.

Later, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surejwala, however, clarified “ We will not withdraw it without consulting the Army. It will be discussed on case to case basis, but not without consulting the Army. There are some areas, where AFPSA is required,” according to a report in India Today.

Calling for dialogue as the only way forward in embattled Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress said it would adopt a two-pronged approach -- “uncompromising firmness on the border and ending infiltration and absolute fairness in dealing with the demands of the people and winning their hearts and minds.”

The manifesto also promised to amend the Press Council of India Act, to protect “freedom of the journalists, uphold editorial independence and guard against government interference”, apart from empowering the council to deal with fake and paid news.

Its said it would also pass a law to curb monopolies in media, prevent cross-ownership of different media segments and “control of media by other business organisations.”.

It also said it would amend the Cinematograph Act t1972 to restrict censorship of films to national security and obscenity.

Among other things, the Congress manifesto also promises to scrap the ‘opaque’ electoral bond scheme “that was designed to favour the ruling party” and set up a National Election Fund to which contributions can be made to recognised political parties as per the law laid down.