The Congress manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, to be called the 'Nyay Patra', will highlight the guarantees focusing on the issues of youth, women, farmers and labourers as well as the promise of caste census, announced by the party president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi during the course of the party's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.
The draft of the manifesto, prepared by a committee headed by veteran leader P. Chidambaram, was discussed by the Congress Working Committee on Tuesday. The panel, which met under the chairmanship of Kharge at the AICC headquarters, authorised the party chief to give the final approval to the manifesto and decide on the date of its release.
The major thrust of the document is on the five 'Nyay' announced during the course of the Rahul-led Manipur to Mumbai yatra which concluded recently. Five guarantees each were announced for each 'Nyay' which dealt with caste census, farmers, labourers, youth and women.
The manifesto is expected to promise a return to the old pension scheme, statehood for Kashmir and a special status for Ladakh.
According to sources, the manifesto would put forth the party's intent to bring in necessary amendments to curb the misuse of central investigating agencies. For example, the manifesto is likely to talk about the need to do away with the controversial provisions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act which are allegedly being misused by the Enforcement Directorate to target opposition leaders.
As per sources, there was a discussion on the party pledging to implement the recommendations of the Sachar committee on improving the social, economic, and educational status of Muslims.
“The guarantees announced under the five Nyays are going to be a game-changer in this election. The party will launch a massive campaign to take the Nyays to the people,” K.C. Venugopal, AICC general secretary in-charge of organisation, told reporters after the CWC meeting.
Jairam Ramesh, AICC general secretary in-charge of communications, said the guarantees will be taken to every doorstep. “Our party organisation took the guarantees to every home in the assembly elections in Karnataka and Telangana. Similarly, in the Lok Sabha elections, the guarantees will be taken to every home. We will have 'Ghar, Ghar Guarantee',” he said.
