Discover the key focuses and promises of the Congress Manifesto 2024, addressing social justice, economic empowerment, media freedom, and electoral reforms.
The manifesto pledges to create a level playing field for all businesses and refer cases of monopolies to the Competition Commission. Furthermore, it pledges to increase manufacturing’s share in GDP.
Congress Manifesto 2024
The party is committed to conducting a nationwide caste census. Additionally, they aim to put an end to mob lynchings and encounter killings while reviewing laws which interfere with privacy.
Freedom from Fear
Rahul Gandhi made equity a cornerstone of his Bharat Jodo Nyatra campaign, so the party’s 2024 manifesto seeks justice through several measures that include legal guarantees for minimum support prices (MSP), caste censuses and recognising civil unions between members of LGBTQIA+ communities as well as filling up vacant posts in government jobs – among many other initiatives.
Document details the Congress Party’s commitment to reopen all closed schools, demand a national maternity leave policy and pledge a one lakh seed capital grant for women from poor households to start businesses. Furthermore, public and private employers will be encouraged to hire more women. Furthermore, as part of defending the constitution the document outlines strengthening independence of Election Commission, Central Information Commission, Human Rights Commission and Commissions for SCsSTsOBCs; amend electoral laws so they combine efficiency of EVMs with transparency of paper ballots.
The Congress pledges to uphold minority safety and welfare by fighting hate crimes and communal tensions, opposing mob lynchings and “bulldozer justice”, and guaranteeing all criminals have fair trials. Furthermore, they will pass laws to stop weaponisation of laws such as searches and arrests without due process, amend laws so bail becomes the rule rather than exception and ensure criminals face equal treatment in court proceedings.
Social Justice: Congress Manifesto 2024
On Friday, the Congress unveiled their election manifesto titled Nyaya Patra or “Pledge for Justice”. National President Mallikarjun Kharge officially introduced it in Delhi alongside senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. It pledges to review India’s economic policy to transform into a producer economy while creating more diversity through laws named after Rohith Vemula for reservation in private educational institutions as well as setting up Diversity Commissions with more women judges appointed on both Supreme and High Court levels.
Congress’ promises include legalizing minimum support prices for farmers and offering cashless healthcare coverage up to Rs 25 lakh, among other initiatives. If elected into power, they also promise a law to recognize civil unions between members of LGBTQIA+ community; all these promises demonstrate social justice that will likely sway voters from OBCs, Dalits and tribals who traditionally favour the BJP’s core constituency of OBCs, Dalits, and tribals.
However, this manifesto’s numerous populist proposals could raise serious concerns regarding fiscal responsibility and growth trajectories. For instance, its plan to replace Goods and Services Tax (GST) with an “Ease of Doing Business” tax remains vague on how this should be achieved and could put strain on government finances. Furthermore, it proposes amending election laws so VVPAT slips match EVMs without specifying when this will take place.
Economic Empowerment: Congress Manifesto 2024
This manifesto offers 25 guarantees to empower the poor, disadvantaged and marginalised populations. The party pledges to provide minimum support prices for farmers’ crops and to provide free healthcare access to poor families through public hospitals, primary healthcare centres, mobile healthcare units and dispensaries. Likewise, it promises free education from Class I to Class XII for all children, and to establish Ambedkar Bhavans-come-Libraries in every district to facilitate reading and discussion among marginalised populations. Maulana Azad Scholarships will also be reinstated and increased, to enable minority students from India and Pakistan to study abroad. Furthermore, it pledges to uphold the principle of “Same Work, Same Wages”, to prevent wage discrimination against women. Immediately upon taking office it will implement 33% reservation of seats in Parliament and Assemblies for female members as well as 50% reservation in central government jobs beginning 2025 for female employees.
The Congress promises to enact a Direct Tax Code which will bring transparency, equity and impartiality in administering taxes. It will do away with exploitative schemes like Angel Tax that discourage investment in new micro, small and medium enterprises.
The manifesto repudiates the notion of one nation-one election and pledges to hold elections for Lok Sabha and State Assemblies at their due dates, amending election laws to guarantee voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) tally with Electronic Voting Machines, as well as ensure that presiding officers of Lok Sabha and State Assemblies cut all connections with political parties while remaining neutral, adhering to age-old norms of “The Speaker doesn’t speak.”
Media Freedom: Congress Manifesto 2024
A democracy that claims to be secular cannot go on infringing upon fundamental freedoms, which is why the Congress’ manifesto guarantees basic protections for individuals. They promise not to interfere with people’s personal choices of diet, marriage and relationships as well as not restricting freedom of speech or assembly and guaranteeing privacy rights.
The party has pledged to protect journalists from coercive state actions by restricting government surveillance of journalists, seizure of their devices and exposure of their sources – this promise comes in light of how the Modi administration has dealt with journalists like Rohit Ranjan of Zee News who was imprisoned for reporting about Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Raipur. Additionally, they have promised to review laws which encroach upon right to privacy as well as reduce media monopoly and cross ownership among business organizations.
The Congress manifesto was written by a committee of senior leaders led by former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram and including other party members such as Chhattisgarh Chief Minister TS Singh Deo and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as well as Jairam Ramesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Shashi Tharoor. A draft version was presented to Kharge in March this year and approved without changes – with its final version to be unveiled sometime between May and June 2024.
FAQs: Congress Manifesto 2024
What are the key focuses of the Congress Manifesto 2024?
The manifesto pledges to create a level playing field for businesses, increase manufacturing’s share in GDP, conduct a nationwide caste census, end mob lynchings and encounter killings, ensure equity through legal guarantees, and uphold social justice and economic empowerment.
How does the Congress plan to address monopolies and promote fair competition?
The party vows to refer cases of monopolies to the Competition Commission and create a level playing field for all businesses.
What measures does the Congress propose to uphold social justice?
The manifesto includes promises such as legal guarantees for minimum support prices, recognition of civil unions for LGBTQIA+ communities, filling up vacant government job posts, and reopening closed schools.
How does the Congress intend to empower economically disadvantaged populations?
The party pledges to provide minimum support prices for farmers’ crops, offer free healthcare access, ensure free education up to Class XII, reinstate Maulana Azad Scholarships, and implement reservation policies in Parliament and central government jobs.
What is the Congress’ stance on media freedom and privacy rights?
The manifesto guarantees protections for personal choices, freedom of speech and assembly, privacy rights, and promises to protect journalists from coercive state actions.
Who was involved in drafting the Congress manifesto?
The manifesto was written by a committee of senior leaders led by former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram, including other prominent members such as TS Singh Deo, Siddaramaiah, Jairam Ramesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Shashi Tharoor.
How will the Congress ensure fiscal responsibility with its populist proposals?
While the manifesto promises several initiatives, concerns have been raised regarding fiscal responsibility and growth trajectories, particularly with vague plans such as replacing GST with an “Ease of Doing Business” tax.
What steps does the Congress plan to take regarding elections and electoral reforms?
The party pledges to hold elections for Lok Sabha and State Assemblies at their due dates, ensure voter verifiable paper audit trails, and maintain neutrality among presiding officers.
How does the Congress aim to promote diversity and inclusion?
The manifesto proposes setting up Diversity Commissions, reservation policies, and increasing women’s representation in judicial positions, among other initiatives.
When will the final version of the Congress manifesto be unveiled?
A draft version was approved without changes and is set to be unveiled between May and June 2024.