CPI(M) manifesto focuses on States’ rights, job creation, ending privatisation of PSUs
CPI(M) State secretary K. Balakrishnan on Saturday released the party’s manifesto, which focuses on issues including States’ rights, job creation, bringing education back to the State list, and stopping privatisation of public sector undertakings.
The manifesto promised to make agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation, Income Tax Department, Enforcement Directorate, Election Commission of India, and Reserve Bank of India independent again.
The party will work towards the scrapping of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and withdraw the amendments made to the Rights to Information (RTI) Act and Lokpal Act, the manifesto said. It also promised to withdraw the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the new criminal laws and release those arrested under the various Acts introduced in the last 10 years by the BJP government.
Adequate funding
The party said it would also ensure adequate sharing of funds to Tamil Nadu, make employment a fundamental right and pay an assistance amount to the unemployed, besides filling up vacancies in all departments of the Central and State governments.
The CPI(M) would also push for an increase in the number of days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) from 100 to 200, and hike the daily wage to ₹600, besides seeking a similar Act for urban areas.
The CPI(M) would also work towards the withdrawal of moves to privatise sectors such as education, health, transport, banks, railways, and insurance, and towards withdrawing amendments to the Electricity Act.