The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
INDIA alliance ‘united’ by polls, divided on manifestoes: CAA, OPS to quota, Art 356
Cong, DMK, SP, RJD, CPM, and CPI manifestoes have several commonalities but diverge on key ideological, political points
IF THE Opposition INDIA alliance is voted to power, will its government revive the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), repeal the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), bring in reservation for jobs in the private sector, abolish the Governor's post or tweak its appointment process, scrap Article 356, and restore special status to Jammu and Kashmir? The answer to these questions will depend on which of the INDIA party’s manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls you are reading.
While the manifestoes of the Congress, DMK, Samajwadi Party (SP), RJD, CPI(M) and the CPI have multiple commonalities, they diverge on several counts, ideological or political. The Congress, the largest party in the INDIA bloc, and the DMK are silent on restoration of the OPS, while the SP, RJD, CPI(M) and CPI have promised its revival. The Congress as well as the SP and RJD are silent on the CAA, but the DMK, CPM and CPI have pledged its scrapping.
In J&K, the six INDIA parties, whose manifestos are out so far, have promised restoration of statehood and holding of immediate Assembly elections. But the CPI(M) and CPI have gone a step further, promising complete statehood “along with special status” while the CPI(M) says its “continuing commitment to the autonomous status granted by Sec 370 of J&K is reflected in its using every fora to defend the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
On the issue of the private sector reservation, the Congress manifesto confines quota to educational institutions as it says “we will enact a law with reference to Article 15(5) of the Constitution to provide for reservation in private educational institutions for SC, ST and OBC”. The SP says it will ensure “representation” to all classes in the private sector. The DMK says “decisive actions will be taken to implement affirmative policies in the private sector”. The CPI(M) and CPI have promised reservation in jobs and education in the private sector for the SCS, STS, OBCS and the disabled.
On the gubernatorial office, which has become a bone of contention between several Opposition parties-ruled states and the Bjp-led Centre, the Congress manifesto alleges that the “Governors of non-bjp-governed states are encouraged to paralyse the working of elected governments”, but leaves it at that. The party has, however, promised to “amend the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 and declare that the Lieutenant Governor shall act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers of NCT, Delhi on all matters, including Services, except on matters concerning the three reserved subjects”.
The DMK, whose government in Tamil Nadu has been on a collision course with Governor R N Ravi for a long time, promises that “the new government will undertake actions to appoint Governors with the consultation of state Chief Ministers as recommended”. Its manifesto also says that “action will be taken to remove Section 361 of the Indian Constitution, which gives Governors a special exemption, thereby ensuring that Governors are also subject to legal actions”.
The CPI(M), in its poll document, promises to “review the current role and position of Governors”. The CPI goes a step further, promising to abolish the Governor's office as also Article 356 of the Constitution. The CPI(M) and DMK, too, favour removal of Article 356, while the other alliance partners are silent on both these counts.
The manifestoes of the INDIA parties have a slew of common points, which include holding of a national caste census, scrapping of the Agnipath scheme for recruitment in the armed forces, adoption of the recommendations of the M S Swaminathan committee on crops' minimum support price (MSP) with the Congress, SP and CPI(M) promising a legal guarantee for MSP.
While the Congress and DMK have promised to increase the wages under the MGNREGA to Rs 400 per day, the SP has promised Rs 450, with the CPI(M) and CPI promising to hike it to Rs 700. While the DMK and SP have pledged to increase the days of work from 100 to 150 under the scheme, the Left seeks to raise it to 200.
The INDIA parties had been considering drafting a common programme and holding joint rallies, but have failed to do both so far. One key aspect of their manifestoes is job creation and social justice. While the Congress has promised to fill nearly 30 lakh vacancies in sanctioned posts at various levels in the central government, the RJD has promised one crore government jobs. Without giving a figure, the SP manifesto talks about filling up vacant posts and formulating a national employment policy. Then there are some state-specific issues and ideological positions.
High on the RJD manifesto is a promise to give Bihar a special status and a financial package of Rs 1.6 lakh crore. The Congress document promises “Special Category status to Andhra Pradesh as promised on 20 February 2014”. The DMK pledges reclamation of Katchatheevu from Sri Lanka on which the Congress is expectedly silent.
The CPI(M) manifesto promises “exit from alliances like, India-us Defence Framework Agreement, QUAD and I2U2, removal of all military bases in our region, particularly the US base in Diegogarciaintheindianocean.” Other parties are silent on these.