In the run up to the General Elections 2014, the ruling Congress party at the Centre today released its much awaited Manifesto with a focus on wiping out corruption, besides giving priority to reservations to ensure simultaneous development of poor and welfare of the downtrodden.
With a slogan of “Your Voice, Our Pledge”, the Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi unveiled the Congress manifesto of inclusive growth in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress deputy Chief Rahul Gandhi and Defence Minister AK Antony. The Congress in its election manifesto clearly stated that it will fight corruption tooth and nail, besides promising to provide housing facility to poor, affordable medical facilities to all, empowerment of women and control of price rise.
Brushing aside BJP’s allegation of failing to keep up the promises, it stated that it had kept 90 per cent of 2009 poll promises. Right to Pension and Social Security, eight per cent growth rate, women protection bill and anti- corruption bill are some of the key issues to focus on, besides maintaining transparency on election expenditure, the manifesto explained.
It may be noted that the Congress has invited the wrath from various quarters including opposition parties on a series of allegations of corruption and scams that ran into lakhs of crores at national level. Taking a dig at Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s corruption charges against the UPA Government, the Congress stated that it is determined to route out the menace and involve people for a speedy growth. With a focus on the masses who occupy major chunk of society, the Congress Manifesto stated that it gives priority to employment opportunities in private sector and provide security to its people.
PEOPLES’ MANIFESTO: SONIA
Congress Party Chief Sonia Gandhi declared that they will try to cater to the needs of people. ‘We have our own policy to develop the nation in all fronts. Our ultimate aim is to provide better infrastructure and amenities to the people. Our Manifesto is peoples’ manifesto that will utilize the strengths and resources for the cause of common man’, she said. She said that the Congress deputy Chief Rahul Gandhi has extensively toured the country and interacted with the people to know their needs and expectations. ‘Now we prepared a manifesto based on his findings and use synergy to live up to the expectations of the people’, Sonia said.
Dr Manmohan Singh asserted that there is a need for a vision for all-round development and to give its fruits to people living below poverty line by bringing them on to mainstream. Unmindful of publicity on Gujarat model of development, Singh maintained that the Congress model is totally different and is expecting to usher in a new era of development wherein people from all walks of life will enjoy its fruits. UPA Government has surpassed the NDA Government in achieving the growth rate at national level. Levels of Gross Domestic Product have been significantly increased manifold, the Prime Minister observed.
Congress prime ministerial candidate Rahul Gandhi stressed the need for involvement of industries and common people in developing the nation. He stated that inclusive growth is their mantra to involve all poor and others alike in the long march of development. (NSS)
