With Lok Sabha elections fast approaching, its time for making promises – literally. Political parties are on promise making spree and releasing manifestos with ambitious promises. The Congress manifesto, released recently, has been the talk of the town due to its provisions for Nyuntam Ayay Yojana (NYAY), repealing Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) and a separate budget for farmers, among others.
On the other hand, the Congress’ main rival, Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) released the much-delayed manifesto on Monday. Eyeing another stint in power, the BJP on Monday made a string of promises, including expeditious construction of a Ram temple, a firm hand in dealing with terrorism and doubling farmers income in the next three years. The party also promised to make India the third largest economy globally by 2030 and scrap Article 370 that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir if it comes back to power.
The 55-page Indian National Congress manifesto released by party President Rahul Gandhi took one year to put together and covers a vast range of issues from jobs, farmers, national security to even LGBTQ rights.
While the BJP in its manifesto promised to make India the third largest economy globally by 2030 and scrap Article 370 that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir if it comes back to power. The BJP also reiterated its commitment to building a Ram temple in Ayodhya and said that if voted back to power, the party would explore all possibilities within the ambit of the Constitution to that end.
Here are a few comparisons between the manifestos of BJP and the Congress:
BJP vs Congress Manifesto: Farmers
The Congress, in its manifesto, promised to introduce a separate Kisan budget, the BJP vowed to double farmers income by 2020 and to provide pensions for small, marginal farmers. The BJP has also promised pension to small and marginal farmers of 60 years and above the age.
BJP vs Congress Manifesto: Poverty
In a bid to eradicate poverty and ensure a “life of dignity” to all Indians, the Congress promised to introduce the Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY) under which Rs. 72,000 per year will be transferred to the poorest 20 percent households in India. It will be transferred to the woman in the household, as far as possible. On poverty, the BJP promised to bring the percentage of families living below the poverty line to a single digit in the next five years. The party promised to provide subsidized sugar (at Rs. 13 per kg per family per month) to 80 crore people from poor and lower-middle-income families.
BJP vs Congress Manifesto: Jobs
The Congress party, in its manifesto, has pledged to make job creation, both in the public and the private sector, its no. 1 priority. The Congress party promised to provide 34 lakh jobs in the public sector by filling up central and state government vacancies before March 2020. BJP promised to create opportunities of employment to youth by providing more support to the 22 major ‘Champion sectors’ in the Indian economy. The BJP also said that it will launch a new scheme to provide collateral-free credit up to Rs 50 lakh for entrepreneurs and will create a ‘Seed Start-up Fund’ of Rs 20,000 crore.
BJP vs Congress Manifesto: Article 370 and Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act
The Congress has promised to review Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and initiate the peace process in Kashmir whereas the BJP reiterated its stand on abrogation of Article 370 and scrapping of Article 35A.
BJP vs Congress Manifesto: Health
The BJP promised to set up 1,50,000 Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) by 2022. The party also aims to the provisioning of telemedicine and diagnostic laboratory facilities at these HWCs by 2022 to ensure quality primary medical care to the poor at his doorstep. BJP also said in its manifesto that it will create an essential devices list and a separate pricing policy for medical devices to ensure their accessibility and affordability to masses.
On the other hand, the Congress in its manifesto promised to enact the Right to Healthcare Act and guarantee every citizen free diagnostics, out-patient care, free medicines, and hospitalisation, through a network of public hospitals and enlisted private hospitals. If elected to power, the Congress has also vowed to double the expenditure on healthcare to 3 percent of GDP by 2023-24.
BJP vs Congress Manifesto: Economy
On the economic front, the BJP said it aspired to make India the third largest economy of the world by 2030. “This implies that we commit to make India a USD 5 trillion economy by 2025 and USD 10 trillion economy by 2032,” it said.
On the other hand, Congress promised to reverse the BJP Government’s fiddling with the target of fiscal deficit. Congress promised to achieve the target of 3 percent of GDP by 2020-21 and remain under that limit. The revenue deficit will be contained, as far as possible, under 1 percent of GDP.
BJP vs Congress Manifesto: Terrorism
BJP in its manifesto said that it will purchase of defence equipment will be fast-tracked to strengthen the armed forces, adding that the BJP government will continue with its approach of zero tolerance towards terrorism if voted to power. Security forces will continue to get a free hand to deal with terrorism.
The Congress in its manifesto said that it will put in place the Multi-Agency Centre and the NSG regional hubs. Congress had also proposed to establish the National Counter-Terrorism Centre and NATGRID.
BJP vs Congress Manifesto: GST
The BJP in its manifesto promised that it will continue with the simplification of the GST process by engaging in dialogue with all stakeholders. On the other hand, Congress in its manifesto said that it will review and replace the current GST laws with the GST 2.0 regime that will truly reflect the intent and purpose of a non-cascading, value-added, indirect tax.
