The Congress party, which released its poll manifesto for the Karnataka elections on Tuesday, promised action against the politics of hate, including a ban on organisations that promote "enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities".
"The Congress Party is committed to take firm and decisive action against individuals and organisations spreading hatred amongst communities on grounds of caste or religion. We believe that law and Constitution is sacrosanct and cannot be violated by individuals and organisations like Bajrang Dal, PFI or others promoting enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities," the manifesto read, adding that the party, if voted to power in the state, will take "decisive action" as per law, including imposing a ban on them, reports ndtv.com.
The Congress also promised to "repeal all unjust laws and anti-people laws passed by the BJP government within one year of coming to power", reports PTI.
AICC president and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjuna Kharge, AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, KPCC president D K Shivakumar, Opposition leader in the Assembly Siddaramaiah, Legislative Council Opposition leader B K Hariprasad and manifesto committee chairman G. Parameshwar were among those present at the launch of the manifesto at Shangharila Hotel in Bangalore.
The manifesto, called "Sarva Janangada Shanthiya Thota (Peaceful garden of all communities)", includes the Shakti scheme which will provide free travel to all women throughout the state in regular KSRTC/ BMTC buses and the Gruha Lakshmi scheme under which each woman head of the family will receive Rs 2,000.
The party also vowed to eradicate corruption in public works and bring in a whistleblower protection act, reports The Indian Express. The party promised to fill all sanctioned government posts that are vacant in its poll manifesto. It also stated that government employees appointed post 2006 will get pensions under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
Kharge said "I am giving the sixth guarantee that these guarantees will surely be implemented in the first cabinet meeting on the first day of the government formation."
In the run-up to the May 10 voting in Karnataka, the Congress also promised:
- To create Prakruthi Vikopa Nidhi (Natural Disaster Fund) - a permanent fund - by creating an initial corpus fund of Rs 5,000 cr.
- To bring in an amendment to the Forest Act to solve forest dwellers problems.
- To create a brand of coffee in Karnataka.
- To purchase cowdung at Rs 3 per kg and establish compost/manure centres in villages by involving rural women and youth.
- Interest-free loans to women to buy 2 cows or buffalos.
- To build country's largest boat building yard in Mangaluru.
- To provide 500 litres of tax-free diesel every year for deep sea fishing.
- Rs 1.5 lakh cr for irrigation in next five years, which included funding for disputed irrigation projects such as Mekedatu and Mahadayi.
- Rs 500 cr will be allocated to Mahadayi project in the first Cabinet meeting.
- To establish a gold and diamond park in Mangaluru.
- Start-up fund of Rs 10 cr to each constituency.
- Rs 1,000 cr for research and development in modern technology.
- Special package for revival of establishments closed due to demonetisation and Covid pandemic.
- High speed wi-fi hotspot in every gram panchayat.
- TenderSURE roads to be extended to cities with more than 10 lakh population.
- Amendment to 1972 Karnataka Apartment Owners Act to ease transfer of property.
- Farm loans of upto Rs 10 lakh to be sanctioned at zero interest.
- Withdrawing the three farm laws enacted in the state under BJP rule
- Rs 200 cr for scientific measures to prevent man-animal conflict
- Amid Nandini row, Congress promises to increase milk production in the state to 1.5 lakh litres under Mission Ksheera Kranthi.
- All sanctioned vacant government posts to be filled within one year.
- Old Pension scheme to all government employees appointed post 2006
- Contract employees in serving in Health and Family Welfare Department for 15-20 years will be made permanent
- Police appointments to be made in such a way that one-third of the staff are women and minimum of one percent posts to be reserved for third gender
- Rs 200 cr fund for research to prevent cyber and economic offences
- Strong legal action against groups that sow discord in society, may it be groups such as Bajrang Dal from majority community or PFI from minority community.
The BJP released its manifesto on Monday. While the party promised implementation of Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar, who headed the BJP’s campaign manifesto, said the ruling party wasn't going to introduce UCC and NRC immediately after returning to power but will set up an expert committee to study it.