The Indian National Congress (INC) released its manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on Friday at the Party’s headquarter in New Delhi. The ‘Nyay Patra’ (Letter of Justice) was jointly released by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, ex-presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal and former union minister and Chairman of Congress Manifesto Committee, P Chidambaram.
In its guarantees for North Eastern States, the Congress guarantees that a “final solution and agreement will be entered into with the Naga groups on the basis of the preliminary agreement that had been agreed in 2013-14”.
Also in this section, the Party says it will remove the present Manipur state government immediately and heal the wounds between the communities. “We will appoint a Reconciliation Commission to bring about a political and administrative settlement that will be satisfactory to all the people of the state,” it adds. Further, the Congress says it will ensure appropriate compensation and redress for the victims and survivors of the conflict in Manipur.
Also in its guarantees for the NE states, it says that the infrastructure deficit in the North Eastern states would be assessed and provide more funds for building infrastructure. “We will support Border Trade and make every effort to increase the volume and value of such trade,”
The 2024 Lok Sabha manifesto focuses on the “five pillars” of Rahul Gandhi led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra – Justice for Youth, Women, Farmers, Workers and Equity.
Other key points in the Congress manifesto are:
– A constitutional amendment will be passed to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations for SC, ST and OBC
– Funds for scholarships for OBC, SC and ST students will be doubled, especially for higher education. Aid SC and ST students to study abroad; and double the number of scholarships for them to pursue a Ph.D
– A national mission will be set up for effective implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 through a dedicated FRA division, a separate budget and action plans
– Raise pensions for senior citizens, widows and persons with disabilities under the National Social Assistance Programme from Rs 200 – Rs 500 per month to Rs 1,000 per month
– Representation for persons with disabilities in local government bodies
– After wide consultation, Congress will bring a law to recognize civil unions between couples belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community
– Establish one government medical college-cum-hospital in each district
– A new Right to Apprenticeship Act to provide a one year apprenticeship with a private or a public sector company to every diploma holder or college graduate below the age of 25. Apprentices will get Rs 1 lakh a year.
– Provide sports scholarships of Rs 10,000 per month for talented and budding sportspersons below the age of 21
– Revisit and amend the New Education Policy (NEP) in consultation with the state governments
– Mahalakshmi scheme to provide Rs 1 lakh per year to every poor Indian family as an unconditional cash transfer.
– Immediately implement reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies
– Reserve one-half (50 per cent) of central government jobs for women starting in 2025
– Enforce ‘Same Work, Same Wages’
– A legal guarantee to the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) announced by the government every year, as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission
– Make a law to specify and protect the rights of gig workers and unorganised workers and enhance their social security
– National minimum wage of Rs 400 per day
– Replace the GST laws with GST 2.0. The new GST regime will be based on the universally accepted principle that GST shall be a single, moderate rate (with a few exceptions) that will not burden the poor
– Immediately restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. We will amend the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to include the tribal areas of Ladakh
– Scrap the Agnipath Scheme and return to the normal recruitment processes followed by the Army, Navy and Air Force that will guarantee economic and social security for soldiers
– Work with Myanmar to protect the political and human rights of the people of Myanmar
Stating that this upcoming Parliamentary election is an opportunity to for radically changing the style and substance of governance, the Congress appealed to voters “to look beyond religion, language and caste, choose wisely, and install a democratic government that will work for all the people of India.”
The party also said that the choice is not Congress or BJP, but more than that. The choice, it said is Democratic government or Authoritarian rule, Freedom or Fear, Prosperity for All or Wealth for a Few, and Justice or Injustice.
