Rahul Vows Wealth, Welfare to the Poor as Congress Unveils Manifesto

Clarion India

NEW DELHI — The Congress party on Tuesday released its manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The manifesto was released in the presence of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other party leaders.

The manifesto will reflect the people’s voice and not just one man’s view, Gandhi had said before releasing the document.

The manifesto is titled “Hum Nibhayenge” or “We will deliver”. “We have delivered the voice of the people,” Gandhi said after releasing the manifesto.

“We have been hearing a large number of lies spoken everyday by our prime minister,” he said. “Nothing in the manifesto is a lie.”

The NYAY scheme for minimum income guarantee, a new development agenda for Jammu and Kashmir, leaner GST with only two slabs and no political interference in intelligence agencies are among the promises in the Congress manifesto for upcoming elections.

“Congress will radically simplify the GST regime with a single moderate rate of tax, zero rating of exports, and exemption for essential goods and services. We also promise panchayats and municipalities a share of GST revenues,” Congress said in manifesto.

Congress will reverse the trend of declining defence spending under the NDA government, and increase it to meet the requirements of the Armed Forces. We will expedite all modernisation programmes of the Armed Forces in a transparent manner. We will improve social security, education and health facilities for our Paramilitary Forces and families,” the manifesto adds.

Separate kisan budget

“For farmers, Congress promises to put them on the path from “Karz Maafi”, to “Karz Mukti”. This will be done through remunerative prices, lower input costs, and assured access to institutional credit. We will present a separate “Kisan Budget” every year. We will also establish a permanent National Commission on Agricultural Development and Planning,” Congress said in its manifesto.

“Congress promises to enact the Right to Healthcare Act and guarantee every citizen free, diagnostics, out-patient care, free medicines and hospitalisation, through a network of public hospitals and enlisted private hospitals. We will double expenditure on healthcare to 3 per cent of GDP by 2023-24,” it adds.

“To ensure a life of dignity to all Indians, Congress will introduce the Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY) under which Rs. 72,000/year will be transferred to the poorest 20 per cent households in India. It will be transferred to the woman in the household, as far as possible,” read the Congress manifesto.

“To the youth of India, Congress pledges to make jobs our no.1 priority, both in the public and private sector. We will ensure 34 lakh jobs in the public sector by;

a. Filling all 4 lakh central government vacancies before March 2020.

b. Persuading the state governments to fill their 20 lakh vacancies.

c. Creating an estimated 10 lakh new Seva Mitra positions in every gram panchayat and urban local body.

We will also provide a fillip to private sector jobs by;

a. Rewarding businesses for job creation and employing more women,

b. Requiring businesses with over 100 employees to implement an apprenticeship programme,” the manifesto adds.