Congress’ big promises: Caste census, raise 50% quota cap, scrap Agnipath

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 are among the promises made by the Congress in its manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls released on Friday (April 5).

The manifesto, focusing on five "pillars of justice" and 25 guarantees under them, was released at the AICC headquarters in the presence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

Releasing the manifesto, Kharge said, “This manifesto has been prepared after extensive consultations with the common public. Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was based on five pillars of justice - Paanch Nyay. This is also the basis of our manifesto. Under each of the 5 categories - Hissedari Nyay, Naari Nyay, Yuva Nyay, Kisaan Nyay, Shramik Nyay - we have listed 5 guarantees each. In this way, the manifesto has 25 guarantees under five pillars of justice.”

“We have also included constitutional justice to address issues of strengthening constitutional institutions, economic justice for reviving the economy, justice for the states to deal with issues of federalism, Raksha Nyay to address issues of India’s defence and Paryavaran Nyay for environment conservation,” he said.

Nyay Patra

In the document titled Nyay Patra, the Opposition party said it would implement 10 per cent quota in jobs, educational institutions for economically weaker sections (EWS) for all castes, communities without discrimination if it comes to power.

It also promised to fill nearly 30 lakh vacancies in sanctioned posts at various levels in the central government and said the Rajasthan model of cashless insurance of up to Rs 25 lakh will be adopted for universal healthcare.

The Congress will pass a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations for SC, ST and OBC if it comes to power in the general elections beginning April 19, the party promised.

Caste census

The Congress also said it will conduct a nationwide socio-economic and caste census.

Appealing to people to look beyond religion, language, caste and choose wisely to install a democratic government, the party said the general elections present an opportunity to radically the change the style of governance that has been in evidence over the past decade.

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.

"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.

Agnipath Scheme

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.

"I urge everyone to have a close look at our manifesto and you will see a 'shandaar tasveer' (beautiful picture) of our country in it," the Congress president said while addressing the gathering.

"We will open the doors to the poor when we come to power....PM Modi is taking our people and claiming '400 Paar' MPs," Kharge added.

Only those who have done something and have fear are quitting the party to join the BJP, he said. He also wondered what kind of level playing field is there when the principal Opposition party's accounts have been frozen.

'Remove autocratic Modi regime'

The Congress president said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi always criticises the 10 years of Dr Manmohan Singh's regime, which gave India MNREGA, Right to Food, Right to Information, labour reforms and rights...in the last 10 years, has Modi done even one thing that can match these achievements of the UPA government.”

He said the need of the hour is to “remove the autocratic Modi government”. He, however, told the Congress leaders and workers that they will have to reach out to people and explain the party’s promises, apart from exposing the “real face” of the Modi regime, to achieve this aim.

Speaking on the occasion, former Union minister P Chidambaram, who headed the manifesto panel, said, “The broad theme of the manifesto is justice. Every aspect of justice has been diminished, in some case denied, over the past 10 years. This manifesto suggests bold measures to reverse the damage that has been done over the past 5-10 years. Work, wealth and welfare are the three main pillars of our manifesto.” He said the draft manifesto had been thoroughly discussed by the CWC and some changes were made later.

The former Union minister said, “I have always accused the BJP of running a government of the rich, by the rich and for the rich. It is a regime driven by the interests of top 1%. If we come to power in 2024, I can say we will lift at least 23 crore people out of poverty over the next 5 years. We have done it in the past and we will do it again.”

(With agency inputs)