In 48-Page Manifesto, Congress Promises Nationwide Caste Census, Rs 1L to Oldest Female Member of Poor Family

Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge released the party’s manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2024 on Friday. In its poll manifesto, the grand old party firmly opposed extra-judicial illegal measures like mob lynching, police encounter killings and bulldozer justice.

“We will stop them immediately and punish the perpetrators by law,” the party said. Notably, the party often opposed the ruling BJP regime over its encounter and bulldozer justice form.

“The broad theme of the manifesto is justice. Every aspect of justice has been threatened, and weakened in the last 10 years, especially in the last five years. Members of the media will recall that in 2019, we had warned what is likely to happen between 2019 and 2024 should the BJP come to power,” says Congress leader P Chidambaram

Reportedly, the Congress manifesto was drawn along the lines of its focus on ‘Panch Nyay, the five ‘pillars of justice’. It also emphasises ‘Yuva Nyay’, ‘Naari Nyay’, ‘Kisaan Nyay’, ‘Shramik Nyay’ and ‘Hissedari Nyay’ as well as the guarantees made by it to the people as part of its poll promises for the general elections.

Congress Manifesto Release: Here Are Top Updates

• Party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and former party presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi released the Congress manifesto.
• The top brass of the Congress party, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, were present at the ceremony.
• Congress manifesto emphasizes ‘Paanch Nyay’ or five pillars of justice, including ‘Yuva Nyay’, ‘Naari Nyay’, ‘Kisaan Nyay’, ‘Shramik Nyay’ and ‘Hissedari Nyay.’
• Congress will conduct a nationwide socio-economic and caste census, as per its manifesto.
• Congress guarantees it will pass a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations.
• The manifesto also promised the youths the ‘right to employment’ as part of its poll manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
• Ten per cent quota in jobs and educational institutions for EWS will be implemented for all castes, and communities without discrimination.
• The Congress has promised to launch a Mahalakshmi scheme across the country under which it will provide Rs 1 lakh per year to every poor Indian family. The money will be given to the oldest woman of the household.
• The Congress manifesto said that it would assist state governments to establish one Government Community College in every tehsil/taluk for students completing Class 12.
• It also promised to fill nearly 30 lakh vacancies in sanctioned posts at various levels in the central government.
• The party also promised that the Rajasthan model of cashless insurance of up to Rs 25 lakh will be adopted for universal healthcare if it comes to power.
• The Congress also promised to offer a broad range of degrees/diplomas in ‘community colleges.’
• The party also promised to abolish the “Agnipath programme”, introduced by the BJP government in 2022.
• Congress said it will give a legal guarantee to Minimum Support Prices (MSP) announced by the government every year as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission.
• A day after the launch of the manifesto, Kharge and the Gandhis will address public rallies in Jaipur and Hyderabad where they will also highlight the key elements of the manifesto.