NEW DELHI, Mar 26: Congress today released its manifesto for the 2014 Lok Sabha Polls, focussing on inclusive growth of the Indian Economy with promises to ensure Right to Health, Pension and Housing, bringing two thirds of country’s population into the middle class and restoring India’s economic growth to above eight per cent within three years.
The manifesto, released by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, party vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a function in New Delhi, also promised to provide economic security for all low income families, focussing on fiscal consolidation, price stability and growth and ensure investment of nearly one Trillion Dollars in the infrastructure sector in the next one decade.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Gandhi, who had held interactions with a cross-section of people including women, youth, minorities, porters, farmers and fishermen, in order to incorporate their views in the party manifesto, said the manifesto reflects views and opinions of common people, who the party consulted before building it up.
“For a country to grow, there needs to be firm partnership between the Business sector and poor. The best party to do this is Congress,” he said.
Mr Gandhi said unlike the manifestos of other parties, the Congress had this time followed a new process for drafting of the manifesto, which envisaged incorporating suggestions from various cross sections of society in the party manifesto.
“Five months ago, we decided to make the manifesto in a different way. We decided to ask people for suggestions to be included in the manifesto. So, the manifesto we have released today, reflects the voice of the people,” he added. He said that 90 per cent of the promises made by Congress in its manifesto for the 2009 Lok Sabha polls had been fulfilled in the last five years.
“Ninety per cent of what we had promised in our 2009 manifesto has been delivered by us. That is exactly what we strive to do in case of our 2014 Manifesto. “For the first time, we have included the voice of the people in the Congress manifesto,” Mr Gandhi said.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said with this manifesto, the party is going to recommit itself to a new vision of an inclusive society, where the economic growth benefits all sections.
“This is the process through which we generate several new jobs that benefit the youth of the country. Congress’ record is visible to anyone who cares to look at it. We have provided an agenda for growth,” Dr Singh said.
Taking a swipe at the so called ‘Gujarat model’ put forward by BJP Prime Ministerial candidate, the PM said, “development has many models, one is Gujarat.
“Congress model recognises need for inclusive growth and an expanding economy for resolving the problems of the country,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said in the last 10 years, the UPA Government at the Centre had ensured economic progress and social empowerment. “Several path-breaking legislations were passed during the rule of UPA II,” she said.
She said that Congress has followed a new process in the preparation of the Manifesto for the 2014 polls which involved seeking suggestions from a wide cross section of society. “While many of the suggestions have been incorporated, it has not been possible to include all suggestions.
“So, we will publish a separate booklet containing the suggestions received during the interactions. “For Congress, these polls are a battle to preserve the Constitutional structure that our founding fathers established after a lot of effort.
“We are fighting to preserve the ideology that unites, rather than divide, people of the country.
“We will always strive for an India where it is not important what our religion, region or caste is, but the fact that you are an Indian.
“We must strive for an India, where all people have equal rights.
“For some, manifesto is a vote grabbing tool, not for Congress. We will fight for India which belongs to all,” Ms Gandhi said.
The Manifesto, prepared after more than 30 consultations across the country over five months with various stakeholders, states that Congress is the only party that believes that economic growth and communal harmony, are two sides of the same coin and must always go hand in hand.
It said the party envisioned an India where the Government serves the people, rather than where people serve the Government. Setting out a 15 point agenda for India’s socio-economic growth and political transformation, the party promised to bring two thirds of the population of the country-the skilled hands that build the country- into the middle class category through a package of basic rights for all formal, informal, organised, unorganised, regular and controctual workers.
“Our aim will be to provide them and all low income families with economic security and a minimum standard of living to uplift their conditions,” it said.
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