News18 Daybreak | Congress Promises Over 1 Crore Jobs, 'Kisan Budget' in Manifesto 2019 and Other Stories You Need to Watch Out For
In a much anticipitated reveal, the Congress on Tuesday released its manifesto for the upcoming general elections, promising “wealth and welfare” for all sections. The 54-page long manifesto titled “Congress Will Deliver” was released in a press conference attended by the party’s top brass including chief Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and veteran leader Manmohan Singh.
Apart from NYAY, the party’s minimum income guarantee promise, the manifesto promises increased employment and a separate budget for farmers, dubbed the ‘Kisan Budget’.
Top five promises: The manifesto covers six main domains – kaam (employment and growth), daam (economy), shaan (national security), sushasan (good governance), swabhiman (for marginalised communities) and samman (basic healthcare). These are a few promises listed in the manifesto.
1. Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY)
Congress chief in the press conference said that its minimum guarantee scheme is his party’s war on poverty. As per the scheme, households earning below Rs 12,000 per month would get annual assistance of Rs 72,000 (Rs 6000 per month).
2. Jobs
The Congress in its manifesto says that it will “fill all 4 lakh Central Government and institutional vacancies before March 2020, create an estimated 10 lakh positions in every gram panchayat and urban local body, create 1 crore jobs by launching ‘Water Bodies Restoration Mission’ and ‘Wasteland Regeneration Mission’ programmes.”
3. Jammu & Kashmir
Among its more contentious promises, the Congress says it will “adopt a two-pronged approach” in the case of J&K to ensure both border security and a fulfilment of the demands of the locals. The party promises to “move more troops to the border to stop infiltration completely, reduce the presence of the Army and CAPFs in the Kashmir Valley, and entrust more responsibility to the J&K police for maintaining law and order.” The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the Disturbed Areas Act will also be reviewed as per the manifesto.
4. Farmers
Apart from farm loan waivers, the party says it will implement a separate budget for farmers which will be called the ‘Kisan Budget’. According to the manifesto, non-payment of debts will also be made a civil offence instead of a criminal one and a permanent National Commission on Agricultural Development and Planning will be established.
5. Rural Development
The party says it will establish a “non-lapsable Rural Infrastructure Fund that will provide loans and grants to specific infrastructure projects undertaken by Panchayats and Municipalities”. The manifesto also includes a proposal for a MGNREGA 3.0 with increased guaranteed days of employment (from 100 to 150) and use of labour for ‘Water Bodies Regeneration’ and Wasteland Regeneration’.
6. End to Hate Crimes
“In the last 5 years under the NDA Government, hate crimes and atrocities against vulnerable sections of the people have increased manifold," says Congress in its manifesto, further promising to end "sense of impunity, stamp out mob violence and lynching, and prevent atrocities and hate crimes against the SC, ST, women and minorities.”
The Congress has also said it would scrap Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, which defines the offence of ‘sedition’.
He said she said: The rival BJP camp criticised the Congress manifesto calling it an attempt to “break the nation”. Falling back on the jingoistic term often-used by right-affiliated groups – “Tukde tukde”, Union Minister Arun Jaitley said, “It appears that some of the important points have been drafted by the Congress president’s ‘Tukde Tukde’ gang when it deals with J&K.”
Jaitley also hit out at the party over its promise to scrap the sedition law and said that the party is “under the influence of Naxalites and jihadis”.
What You May Have Missed
India writes to Pakistan for consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav and four other prisoners
India on Tuesday wrote to Pakistan to grant it consular access to Indian prisoners, including Kulbhushan Jadhav, and the immediate release of 10 Indian civilian prisoners lodged in jails whose nationality has been confirmed by Islamabad. Sources confirmed that a note had been sent to the Pakistan High Commission regarding access to five prisoners — Mohammad Javaid, Abdul Hakeem, Muhammad Ismail, Salfikar Ali and Kulbhushan Jadhav. A former Indian Navy officer, Jadhav, was awarded the death sentence by a Pakistani military court under Pakistan Army Act-59 (PAA- 59) on charges of espionage. India has, however, maintained that Jadhav is innocent. The hearing in his case last happened in February at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) headquarters in The Hague and a judgement will be pronounced in the coming months.
News18 Election Tracker:
EC denies permission for Rafale book launch, event takes place at publisher’s store hours later
The Election Commission on Tuesday denied permission for the book launch event of ‘Rafale — A Scam That Rocked The Nation’ slated to take place in Chennai, claiming that it was in violation of the Model Code of Conduct. After issuing a letter to the publisher, officers on election duty are also said to have seized all 150 copies of the book. Despite the EC’s objection, the publisher decided to hold the event, first at his office and then at the same book store. The book was finally released in the presence of journalist and chairman of The Hindu Publishing Group N Ram and a retired lieutenant colonel. The EC has, however, denied reports of having tried to stall the event. Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Saboo said, “Neither the EC nor the chief election officer (CEO) had given any instruction regarding the seizure of books. I have directed the district election officer, Chennai, to look into this and submit a report immediately.”
Modi targets caste vote in Gaya, Nitish Kumar pitches 'Vikas' in first joint election rally
In a joint public rally with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar at Gaya on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched an attack on the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government saying that there has been "no other party that has ignored Ambedkar as much as the previous government has." Continuing his tirade, the Prime Minister targeted the significant scheduled caste voters in the constituency and said, “Congress says I am the chowkidar of the toilet. Is it not an insult to those who clean it? Is this insult granted to you?". Both Jamui and Gaya constituencies from where the PM launched the NDA campaign in Bihar on Tuesday are reserved seat for the scheduled caste. While Modi was seen criticising the Congress, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar in the same rally enlisted the achievements of NDA in the state. Taking a jibe at the erstwhile Lalu Prasad Yadav led government, he said, "we have ended the era of lanterns. Now there is electricity in every village in the state."