With a promise to “undo the damage” done by the SAD-BJP ruling coalition in its decade-long rule, the Punjab Congress on Monday released its manifesto for February 4 polls addressing the key issues the State is fronting, ranging from drug abuse to unemployment.
The 127-page poll document, blaming the coalition Government for all the ills afflicting Punjab, also has 10-page chargesheet against the outgoing Government.
Strategically released by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the manifesto gave “naun nukte” (nine points) for “Nawan Naroan Punjab” (new and healthy Punjab). It promised elimination of drugs within four weeks after coming to power, besides ensuring Punjab’s water for its people only, job for every household, waiver of agricultural debt, full freedom for trade business, and industry with affordable electricity, water and sewerage and rejuvenating industry within 90 days of taking over the administration; women empowerment with 33 percent reservation in jobs and educational institutions; free housing for all houseless SCs; and caring for the OBCs.
Besides crackdown on drugs and other mafias, the party promised a series of wide-ranging new legislations to control important administrative and legal functions, ending of VIP culture and corruption, bringing the marginalised and minorities back into the societal mainstream, time-bound steps to bolster employment and revive agriculture and industry.
Manmohan Singh, accompanied by the state party chief Capt Amarinder Singh, state party affairs in-charge Asha Kumari, former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, former Union Minister Ambika Soni, unveiled the poll document in New Delhi with parallel release at five other places — Chandigarh, Bathinda, Amritsar, ludhiana, Jalandhar and Bathinda — by senior party leaders.
“It took six months to draft the manifesto before its final blueprint got a green signal from Dr Singh, who is also a noted economist,” said Capt Amarinder.
Taking on the outgoing SAD-BJP combine government, the manifesto promised Punjab voters to redeem state’s honour “economically, socially, culturally, financially, and environmentally”, and to restore the state its ‘rightful’ place in India.
By means of this, the party has given a blueprint of its vision it has for Punjab, if elected to power. Right from getting rid of VVIP culture to combating drug menace, bringing policy reforms including police reforms to implementation of right to education.
Declaring that Punjab’s river water would “only for people of the state”, the party maintained that no new canal construction, including SYl, to be allowed, besides intra-state river water distribution and infrastructure will be strengthened.
COMBATING DRUGS
Hitting the nail on its head, the Congress party used Punjab’s worse kept secret — drug addiction — as one of the planks to jump into the election arena. Making the most of anti-drug sentiment in Punjab, the party projected itself as the messiah hooked to the notion of redeeming the State from the menace by promising to hit at drug cartels within four weeks of the government’s installation.
It assured to adopt zero tolerance policy for drug smugglers and peddlers, and police officials, politicians and bureaucrats who indulged in drug trafficking. Besides, it has promised to launch a campaign to educate youth and rehabilitate drug addicts, setting up fast track courts in every district.
The party also announced to shut down five percent liquor vends every year, besides enacting ‘Confiscation of Drug Dealers’ Property Act’ within 30 days of forming the government.
ENDING VIP CUlTURE
In its manifesto, the party also attempted to take off on winds of anti-corruption prevailing in the country by claiming that it would abolish use of red beacon lights, except on emergency vehicles. The party also announced 90 percent cut in security personnel for politicians and officials, two-year-ban on foreign travel except where mandatory, medical insurance to reduce financial burden on government.
ZERO TOlERANCE TOWARDS CORRUPTION
The manifesto declared that the Congress government would make it mandatory for all MlAs to make their salaries, allowances public by putting it online, with MPs and MlAs required to compulsorily declare their immovable properties every year on the floor of the Vidhan Sabha. A zero-tolerance policy against corruption will be stringently followed, with all government expenditure to be subjected to a third-party audit.
The Congress also promised to bring out a ‘White Paper’ exposing SAD-BJP claims on governance, development and financial situation of the state while reconstituting the Governance Reforms Commission as Governance Reforms and Ethics Commission (GREC).
GENERATING JOBS
Giving a slogan of ‘ghar, ghar rozgar’, Congress promised to ensure time bound employment. Setting up of ‘employment bureaus’ in all districts, providing employment to at least one person in each family in five years from 2017 to 2022, and Rs 2500 monthly unemployment allowance till a person gets a job are key highlights.
“Innovative measures such as cess on liquor and revenue through mining could help generate funds for employment, as promised by the Congress in its manifesto,” said Capt Amarinder.
It announced Shaheed Bhagat Singh Employment Generation scheme for youth, providing one lakh taxis, commercial and other vehicles per year to unemployed youth at subsidised rates, 25,000 tractors with other tools for unemployed youth, compulsory recruitment of local youth by industrial investors, incentives to use smart digital technology, among others.
SAVING FARMS
Other than the promise of “agricultural debt waiver”, it has also announced to continue free power supply to farmers, raising crop compensation to Rs 2,000 per acre, introduction of farmers’ pension scheme raising ex-gratia payment to Rs 10 lakh for families affected by suicides, establishment of price stabilisation fund, among other things.
REVIVING ECONOMY
Declaring to achieve its number one position in industrial growth, the Congress promised affordable electricity at Rs five per unit, subsidised water, revamping Excise and Taxation policy, level playing field for industries and efficient mobilisation of revenue from the state’s exchequer.
“Revenue of Punjab is much below the national average. I am not talking of post-demonetisation period, it was much earlier to that. While, India’s growth was estimated at 7.3 percent, ours was at 5.6 percent…Akali government did nothing. We had got an investment commitment worth Rs 1.70 lakh crore, which could have led to the generation of 20 lakh jobs, but the process was scuttled by the Akalis when they took over the reins of the state,” said Capt Amarinder. He said that the Congress would address issues through state budget, “but we also need to have out-of-the-box ideas, as every aspect can’t be addressed through budget”.
EMPOWERING THE FAIR SEX
Promising 33 per cent reservation for the fair sex in all Government jobs including contractual appointments, Congress announced skill development of farmers’ widows and free education to their children who committed suicide, free education for girls from class I to PhD.
The party also announced to formulate a State policy on women’s empowerment along with an action plan and allocation of resources, setting up of crisis centres in all districts to help women affected by domestic violence, besides providing free legal and medical aid to victims.
CHARGESHEET AGAINST COMBINE
In its 10-page charge-sheet, the Congress accused the Badal government of demolishing institutions and structures, robbing them of their own powers and autonomy. It pointed towards drug, mining, liquor, land, cable, transport and lottery mafias along various scams, detailing how the system collapsed in Punjab leading to a ‘jungle raj’ besides policy paralysis and depriving the marginalised of their rights.