From restoring J&K’s statehood, caste census, to scrapping Agnipath scheme: Congress unveils manifesto for Lok Sabha elections

New Delhi, April 5: With barely weeks to go for the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress party has released its manifesto today which appeases especially minorities in the country. The party has also promised to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, a significant decision taken by the Modi government in 2019.

The grand old party had, however, already revealed 25 of its guarantees, which it calls 'Paanch Nyay' or five pillars of justice. The five pillars – there are five ‘guarantees’ under each – are 'Yuva Nyay' (for youth), 'Naari Nyay' (for women), 'Kisaan Nyay' (for farmers), 'Shramik Nyay' (for labourers) and 'Hissedari Nyay' (opportunities as per proportion in population).

The document was launched by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge in the presence of senior leaders, at the party headquarters in Delhi.

Besides, here are some of the promises that are problematic for the country.

1. "We will repair relations with the Maldives and work with Myanmar to protect the political and human rights of the people of Myanmar. Engagement with Pakistan depends fundamentally on its willingness and ability to end cross-border terrorism," the manifesto read.

2. "The Congress would abolish the Agnipath programme and direct the armed forces to resume normal recruitment to achieve full sanctioned strength".

3. "The Congress will ensure that, like every citizen, minorities have the freedom of choice of dress, food, language and personal laws. We will encourage reform of personal laws".

4. "The Congress will conduct a nationwide socio-economic and caste census to enumerate the castes and sub-castes and their socio-economic conditions and it will pass a constitutional amendment to raise the 50% cap on reservations for SC, ST and OBC".

5. "We will restore the Maulana Azad Scholarships for study abroad and increase the number of scholarships"

6. "More women and persons belonging to the SC, ST, OBC and minorities will be appointed as judges of the High Courts and the Supreme Court."

7. Congress will revive the Education Loan programme to college students implemented under the UPA government and instruct banks to extend collateral-free education loans up to ₹7.5 lakhs especially to students belonging to the SC, ST, OBC, EWS and minorities.

Apart from these absurd promises, a blunder was also made by Congress as usual. Reacting to the Congress manifesto, BJP national spokesperson Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi asked, "There is a picture on water management in Congress manifesto. This picture is of the Buffalo River in New York state. Till now they have not been able to find out who was tweeting from their social media chairperson's Twitter, but who sent them this picture? Under the Environment section, a picture from Rahul Gandhi's favoured destination, Thailand has been put. Who is putting all this in their manifesto?"