The Indian National Congress released its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on Friday and the party ‘guarantees’ it will conduct a caste census once it comes to power. The party also promises it will introduce a constitutional amendment to raise the reservation cap for most backward and other backward classes.
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. P. Chidambaram and Organisation Secretary K.C. Venugopal was also present at the release the party’s ‘Nyay Patra’. The party emphasises its five Nyay guarantees in the manifesto.
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.
In the manifesto, Congress promises it will conduct a caste census and will pass a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations for SC, ST and OBC. It also promises Rajasthan model of cashless insurance of up to Rs 25 lakh will be adopted for universal healthcare; 10 per cent quota in jobs and educational institutions for EWS will be implemented for all castes, communities without discrimination; Will fill nearly 30 lakh vacancies in sanctioned posts at various levels in central government and legal guarantee to MSP announced by government every year as recommended by Swaminathan Commission.
Congress said it will abolish the Agnipath programme and direct armed forces to resume normal recruitment to achieve full sanctioned strength. The party promised it would restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and launch an urban employment programme.
“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.