by Dr. Jaipal Singh
Globally, those who have at least some knowledge of the Indian polity, would also be aware that India is a parliamentary democracy where elections are regularly held every five years for the national parliament, state legislative assemblies and local self-government for the cities, towns and village levels. Currently, this democratic election process for the parliamentary elections is in full swing and the Indian National Congress aka the Congress, the oldest political party of India, has released its election manifesto on 04 April 2024 containing hundreds of promises to the electorate, including a commitment to eliminate poverty from the country and scathing attacks on the programmes and policies as well as personal criticism of the ruling Bhartiya Janta Party and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The key leaders of the grand old party namely Rajya Sabha Member & Chairperson, Congress Parliamentary Party Sonia Gandhi, Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi, Party President Mallikarjun Kharge and Chairman, Manifesto Committee P. Chidambaram named it ‘Nyay Patra' (Justice Epistle) with a tagline “Haath Badlega Halaat” (Hand Will Change Things).
Releasing ‘The Manifesto'
Releasing the Manifesto, the Congress leaders alleged that every aspect of the “justice” has been threatened, weakened, diminished and in some cases even denied during the last 10 years, especially in the last 5 years from 2019 t0 2024 by the Narendra Modi government. To further elaborate this, the leaders added that they had already warned of in 2019: The institutions will be diminished or captured, that is happened; the freedom will be restricted and that is happened; the weaker sections of the people will be denied their rights and their privileges, that has happened; the Parliament will be diminished, it happened; and the nation will inexorably move towards an autocracy and it has happened. Therefore, justice is the underlining key word of the Congress manifesto, which has essentially focused on five “pillars of justice” i.e. Yuva Nyay (justice for youth), Naari Nyay (justice for women), Kisaan Nyay (justice for farmers), Shramik Nyay (justice with workers) and Hissedari Nyay (justice for equity). To meet the ends of justice, the Congress has promised a total 25 guarantees with an overall theme of three powerful words – Work, Wealth, and Welfare.
It is unfortunate yet a bitter reality that the country's oldest party is facing an unprecedented mass exodus of leaders/members just before the ensuing parliamentary elections. During the Manifesto release function, there was no hint as to whether the party had prior contemplation on the anti-defection law, but their position is that a member should be disqualified as soon as defection takes place. The Gandhi scion (Rahul Gandhi) emphasized that the current election was about those who are trying to destroy the Constitution and destroy democracy in this country versus those who are trying to protect the Constitution and protect democracy in this country. Taking a dig at the media and press reports, he expressed confidence and hope of winning the election in a close contest. While recalling the 138-year journey of the Congress in service of the nation citing great achievements, the Congress leaders lamented how during Narendra Modi led NDA rule the youth have lost jobs, farmers have lost hope, traders have lost business, micro, small and medium enterprises have lost their confidence, women have lost a sense of security, deprived communities have lost their economic rights, and institutions have lost independence; all this due to the prevailing ‘climate of fear, intimidation and hatred'.
The introductory part of the Nyay Patra says that based on the record of the first term of the Modi government (2014-2019), the Congress party had forewarned the people of the precarious state of Indian polity and economy as also the dangers of re-electing the BJP/NDA government. Alas! The assessment by the Congress has not only proved true but also many of the weaknesses and woes have only further deepened during the last five years (2019-2024). In their own words, the Congress party endorsed its 2019 manifesto along with its newer and more pragmatic approach with credible solutions to take out the country and people from the mess created by the ruling NDA. The manifesto adds that it is not merely a question of choice between the Congress or BJP, but more than that a choice between a democratic government (as Congress assumes self) or an authoritarian rule (refers to Modi led NDA) as also prosperity for all (common people) or wealth for a few (select corporate like Adanis and Ambanis). Through the newly released Nyay Patra, the Congress assures freedom from fear, justice and prosperity for all and sundry.
The Nyay Patra 2024
The manifesto is comprised of a total of 46 pages, sub-divided under ten core areas and issues of prime concern, preceded with an introduction and concluded with an appeal to the electorate. In the following paragraphs, the author proposes to briefly discuss the core promises along with own analysis and remarks, where considered necessary. Just to illustrate the point made about the aforesaid “justice”, the Congress had earlier promised a minimum income scheme to eliminate poverty from the country in its 2019 general election manifesto naming it NYAY (Nyuntam Aay Yojana) whereunder every poor family in the country was assured rupees seventy-two thousand per annum (@ Rs 6,000 per month) without any doing work. Needless to mention, the party failed to convince the electorate and fared poorly during the 2019 elections. The same scheme has now been rechristened as the Mahalaxmi Scheme in the Nyay Patra, under which the party has promised Rs one lakh to the account of the oldest woman in the poor family to alleviate poverty.
The Gandhi scion spoke in an election rally at Anupgarh in Rajasthan on 11 April 2024, “Congress Sarkar desh ke har garib parivar ki mahila ke bank khate me (ek saal me) ek lakh rupaye transfer karegi… agar aap garibi rekha se neeche hain to har saal ek lakh rupaye (8,500 rupaye prati maah) khatakhat khatakhat aata rahega aur ek jhatke se hum Hindustan se garibi mita denge…” (The Congress government will transfer Rs one lakh every year to the bank account of the woman in the poor family… in case, you are living below the poverty line, you will instantly keep receiving Rs one lakh every year (@ Rs 8,500 per month) and we will eradicate poverty from India in one stroke). He took a dig at the Indian media at the same time that it was the duty of the media to highlight the issues faced by the poor people but, instead, they prefer reporting corporate events like Ambani scion's marriage and glorifying Narendra Modi twenty-four hours a day. Needless to mention, the idea (or freebie allurement) of ‘NYAY' didn't work in 2019 general election, and its impact (old wine in new bottle) on the electorate is yet to be seen in the current phase.
The author proposes to briefly highlight the major issues and promises made by the Congress party under the each identified core area along with own remarks, where necessary, in the following paragraphs:
I – Equity
Under the equity, the manifesto has covered points on the social justice, religious and linguistic minorities, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual), etc. Together the manifesto includes as many as 62 promises for justice under various categories. The underlining message of the social justice is that the SC, ST and OBC communities have a population of about 70% yet they face discrimination and low representation in every walk of life including high-ranking professions, services and businesses. Therefore, the Congress government will ensure social justice by carrying out a nation-wide caste, sub-caste and socio-economic census, and modify the Constitution to raise the existing 50 per cent cap on their reservation. Another 10 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions will be carried out for the economically weaker sections (EWS). Here the paradox is the very same people and party talk about removing cast barriers on one hand, and then bid for a caste census to do caste based social justice.
Other significant social justice measures include abolition of the contractualisation of jobs, regularization of such appointments, doubling the amount and number of scholarships for the SC, ST and OBC classes, Rohith Vermula Act to end caste discrimination, abolition of manual scavenging and rehabilitation of such people through re-skilling and providing a job with an assured life of safety and dignity. It has, however, not been explained with any roadmap for future as to how and in what time-frame all these wonderful reforms shall be carried out. Similarly, it is also not clear whether any assessment of the magnitude of actions required for this and financial implications have been carried out at least on provisional basis. In the same context, it may also be relevant to mention that the Congress and their partners have together ruled this country for about sixty years since independence in August 1947 and perhaps found this long period insufficient for carrying out their social justice plans. As for the Indian Constitution is concerned, it had initially catered reservation in jobs for the SC and ST communities only for ten years and advocated against any distinction or discrimination based on religion, caste, community and region.
A total of 9 promises have been made for the religious and linguistic minorities of India. Some of the provisions thus made include constitutional guarantees, a fair share of opportunities in education, healthcare, public employment, public works contracts, institutional credit, skill development, sports and cultural activities, and so on. The Congress manifesro also promises freedom of the choice of dress, food, language and personal laws. Although they will encourage reforms of personal laws but not without the consent of the communities concerned. The Maulana Azad Scholarships for the study abroad shall be restored with increased number of scholarships. In India, the minorities include Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, Buddhists, Jains, Jews, and so on. However, the focuses of the Congress and its traditional partners have been only Muslim community, which constitutes a significant percentage of electorate in the country. During the previous Congress government, the former PM Manmohan Singh spoke on record that the minorities specially Muslims should be given priority on the national resources.When the party talks about personal laws and the choice of the dress, food and language, it practically means that the community shall be allowed a free hand in these matters.
The choice of dress, food, language and personal laws appears harmless and reasonable on face value but its practice on ground is not that simple. Article 44 of the Constitution says, “The State shall endeavor to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India.” This implies that it is the duty of the state to secure a Uniform Civil Code for the citizens throughout the territory of India. However, former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru led Congress adopted a sectarian approach in passing only Hindu Civil Code which is now applicable to all Indian religions, consciously leaving the Muslims and Christians to follow their own age-old personal laws despite evil practices like polygamy, triple talaq, halala, and so on. Only recently, the country had a major crisis with violent upsurge creating a serious law and order situation in states, when a few Muslim female students in the state of Karnataka insisted for freedom to wear hijab/burqa in violation of the prescribed common dress code by the schools. The Congress and like-minded parties have religiously followed the appeasement policy towards Muslims keeping an eye over the large electorate. The famous Shahbano case could be cited as the most pertinent illustration where the party used its overwhelming mandate in the parliament to reverse the Supreme Court verdict granting alimony to the divorcee poor woman.
In the health sector, the Congress manifesto includes as many as 19 promises making the healthcare free and universal in terms of hospitals, clinics, primary health canters, mobile healthcare units, dispensaries, health camps, free examination, diagnostics, treatment, surgery, medicines, rehabilitation and palliative care. To achieve this, the Congress government will increase budget allocation upto 4 per cent of the total Central Government expenditure. While several promises have been made for the welfare of senior citizens and disabled people (Modi Government addresses them as “differently abled persons”), the Congress manifesto also promises the LGBTQIA community to bring a law recognizing the civil union (i.e. marriage or living together as couple without it) between such couples – a controversial approach on which currently a nationwide debate is on with many NDA constituents against it citing it unnatural and unethical.
II – Youth
Under the youth category, the manifesto has covered points on jobs (8), education (25) and sports (7) with a total of 40 promises made for their progress and welfare. According to them, the future of the country lies in the youth who are facing joblessness and hopelessness everywhere, the root cause being massive unemployment under the BJP/NDA government. To tackle their problem, the Congress guarantees one year apprenticeship with one lakh grant in public or private sector to every youth below the age of 25 years. Besides, they have also inter alia promised filling of some 30 lakh vacancies, new start ups, abolition of application fees in examinations and one time waiver of all educational loans as on 15 March 2024. Similarly, the manifesto also speaks of revisiting NEET, CUET etc. with a view to giving free hand to the states for conducting their own examinations as hitherto fore. As the author can perceive from the terms like revisit/review, the Congress is committed to reverse many such schemes, programs and innovations of BJP/NDA, if voted in power.
III – Women
Under the manifesto, points for the women are covered under two sub-headings namely Mahalaxmi and Women's Empowerment with a total of 17 promises. Under the Mahalaxmi scheme, the Congress has promised to provide Rs one lakh per year (@ Rs 8,500 per month) to every poor family as an unconditional cash transfer and this amount will be credited to the bank account of the oldest woman of the household. A reference to this scheme has been made in an earlier paragraph too. The scheme earlier promised in 2019 manifesto as NYAY with a cash transfer of Rs 72 thousand to each poor family has been revised as Mahalaxmi scheme now. In the past, despite backing from some so-called eminent economists, the idea of putting a huge burden on the national exchequer in the name of poverty removal had received massive criticism from several quarters and was rejected by the electorate too. A far better choice would have been to come out with worthwhile welfare schemes and programs to improve the standards of life of such people rather than pushing them under addiction to “no need to work” when the government is already supplying cash for no work. It is yet to be seen how the electorate will respond to this freebie culture.
continued ….
