Did Congress Manifesto give Muslims the priority?
What are the main features of the Congress manifesto? An overview!
India will host seven phases of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, spanning from April 19 to June 1. This election’s results will be declared on June 4. In this context, on April 05, Congress, the main party of India’s alliance, released its 48-page election manifesto in the presence of Congress leaders Mallikarjuna Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi.
It is also noteworthy that Congress has released its election manifesto under the name of ‘Nyay Patra’ in Hindi.
In this instance, it’s also evident that a large number of BJP members are disseminating an image on social media platforms with the caption, “The Congress has prioritized Muslims in its election manifesto.”
Congress Manifesto is horrible. Never seen such a dangerous manifesto in my life. It’s like vision 2047 document of PFI
Check these points of manifesto
1. Will bring back triple talak (Muslim personal law)
2. Reservation to Muslim in govt n private jobs (Implement Sachchar…— STAR Boy TARUN (@Starboy2079) April 5, 2024
In the viral image, Congress has lined up several promises after winning the election, saying, “Think and vote for India alliance.” They are,
- Will bring back triple talaq (Muslim personal law)
- Reservation to Muslims in govt and private jobs (Implement Sachchar committee report)
- Support Love Jihad (right to love)
- Support Burqa in school (right to dress)
- End majoritarianism (Hinduism)
- Ban bulldozer action
- Support Gaza (Hamas)
- Legalise Same-Sex Marriage, gender fluidity, trans movement
- Increase Muslim judges in the judiciary
- Communal violence bill (will stop mob lynching)
- Legalise beef (right to eat everything)
- Separate loan interest for Muslims
- Allow treason (No sedition)
The post further added “All those Hindus who are thinking of voting Indi Alliance, NOTA, or independent. Read this and think.”
BJP people are misrepresenting the promises in the Congress manifesto:
Come let’s analyze it one by one.
Freedom for Minorities:
In its promise, the Congress said it would ensure that minorities have freedom of choice of dress, food, language, and personal laws, just like every citizen. But as mentioned by the BJP, there is no mention of triple talaq as a separate law for Muslims.
Reservation for Economically Weaker Sections:
The Congress Manifesto report made no mention of the promise to provide reservations for Muslims in government and private employment, according to an analysis of reports regarding the implementation of the Sachar Committee report. Instead, it declared that all castes and communities would be treated equally with the implementation of a 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in employment and educational institutions.
Freedom to marry, dress:
Congress has promised not to interfere with personal choices of food and dress, to love and marry, and to travel and reside in any part of India. All laws and rules that interfere unreasonably with personal freedoms will be repealed.
Many people are misrepresenting this by saying that Congress supports Love Jihad and is in favor of wearing a burqa.
Diversity in Religions:
“All people living in India and all children born in India are equally entitled to enjoy human rights including the right to practice one’s religion. Pluralism and diversity constitute the ethos of India and are enshrined in the Preamble to the Constitution of India” the Congress said in its election manifesto about India’s religious diversity.
The above words are being misrepresented by the BJP by saying that the Congress manifesto will put an end to Hindu majoritarianism.
Preventing Arbitrary Arrests and Disarmament:
In its manifesto, the Congress said it would ban bulldozer justice, arbitrary and indiscriminate arrests, weaponization, third-degree methods, prolonged custody, and custodial deaths.
India urges world peace in Gaza conflict:
After independence, there was a consensus on foreign policy since Independence. Unfortunately, in many areas, foreign policy under the BJP/NDA government has witnessed marked departures from this consensus, notably on the ongoing Gaza conflict. Congress pledges to restore India’s global reputation as a voice of peace and moderation in world affairs, the statement said while we searched about the ‘Gaza support’ in the manifesto.
But nowhere does it mention that Congress is supporting the Gaza war.
Support for the LGBTQIA community:
After wide consultation, Congress will bring a law to recognize civil unions between couples belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community.
Similarly, all laws will be scrutinized for gender discrimination and gender bias. The offending provisions will be removed or amended in the first year of the Congress government.
Equality in Judiciary:
We have examined whether the Congress has said in its manifesto that Muslim judges should be increased in the judiciary. We got to know that, it said that more women and persons belonging to the SC, ST, OBC, and minorities will be appointed as judges of the High Courts and the Supreme Court.
Communal conflicts will be prevented by:
Congress will firmly crack down on hate speech, hate crimes, and communal conflicts. According to NCRB data, crimes against women, SC, ST, and minorities have increased. The Congress in its statement said that those involved in such criminal activities and their accomplices will be identified and punished according to law.
Freedom in food:
Congress has said that it will ensure freedom of choice of dress, food, language, and personal laws like every citizen, but some people are misrepresenting that Congress has legalized beef food out of hatred.
Special offer for students:
The Congress will revive the education loan scheme for college students implemented by the BJP government once it comes to power. In the election manifesto, Congress has also said that banks will be directed to provide collateral-free education loans of up to 7.5 lahks to students belonging to SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and minorities.
Some people are spreading this wrongly by saying that Congress will give separate loans only to Muslims.
Does Congress support sedition cases?
On social media, some people are disseminating false information that claims Congress condones sedition. However, the Congress’s election manifesto makes no mention of this.
Through this, it is known that the right-wingers have misrepresented the many programs that Congress has brought forth in support of SC, ST, OBC, and minorities, claiming that Congress has brought its election manifesto in favor of Muslims.
What are the other major promises in the Congress manifesto?
Congress has announced its election promises based on 5 important aspects namely Justice for Youth (Yuva Nyay), Justice for Women (Nari Nyay), Justice for Farmers (Kisan Nyay), Justice for Workers (Shramik Nyay), and Social Justice (Hissedari Nyay). Accordingly, the major features of the election manifesto released by the Congress are listed below.
- Financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh per year to women belonging to poor families through the ‘Maha Lakshmi Scheme’
- Conducting nation-wide social, economic, and caste census
- All education loans disbursed till 15 March 2024 are waived off
- Providing cell phones to students studying in classes 9 to 12
- Increase in monthly allowance to Rs.1,000 for senior citizens, widows, differently-abled persons
- An increase of 50% reservation limit for OBC, SC, and ST categories will be raised
- Implementation of a medical insurance scheme for free treatment up to Rs.25 lakhs
- Life insurance and accident insurance for informal workers
- Formation of Committee for Agricultural Loan Waiver
- Minimum ration for farmers as recommended by MS Swaminathan Committee
- Taking steps to include new languages in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution
- Raising the daily wage to Rs.400 under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
- Conducting entrance exams including NEET as per the discretion of respective states
- Extension of 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) to all castes and communities.
Many political critics have opined that the election promises of Congress have been made based on social justice. At the same time, many have questioned the feasibility of implementing the Mahalakshmi scheme, which promises to provides financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh per year to women.
At the same time, with less than two weeks left for the election, the BJP is yet to release its manifesto, and this has created huge expectations among political circles..!!
Links:
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