Manifestos have to be taken with a dollop of salt. But the document from the Congress offers an indirect reminder of events that scarred us in recent years
NYAY
Congress: Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY), under which 5 crore families or the poorest 20 per cent will be guaranteed cash transfer of Rs 72,000 a year, as far as possible in a woman’s bank account.
Context: Modi’s campaign style of 2014 had created an impression that Rs 15 lakh could be deposited in each Indian’s account. After five years, the biggest beneficiary has been an idiomatic expression called “jumla”.
The idea of universal basic income has little to do with Modi’s projection that was linked to the hypothetical seizure of black money stashed abroad. But the
Congress’s promise of cash deposit — a firm commitment in writing unlike the “jumla” — has served to jog memories of Modi’s perceived promise. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has rubbed it in by saying he got the idea from Modi’s “Rs 15 lakh speech”.
Unemployment
Congress: Pledges to give the highest priority to jobs.
Context: Unemployment is seen as one of the biggest failures of the Narendra Modi government, which has added to the perception by sitting on data.
Hate
Congress: Will pass a law in the first session itself to prevent and punish hate crimes such as mob-engineered stripping, burning and lynching.
Context: Remember Mohammad Akhlaque, who was lynched on the false charge of possessing beef.
The list is long.
Kashmir
Congress: Talks without pre-conditions. Uncompromising firmness on the border, and absolute fairness in dealing with the demands of the people. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the Disturbed Areas Act will be reviewed. Jammu and Kashmir deserves a large-hearted approach.
Context: The Modi government’s iron-fist policy is blamed for the worst phase of mistrust and alienation in the Valley.
Sectarian strife
Congress: Will put down caste or communal violence with a firm hand. No room for self-appointed vigilante groups and moral policing brigades.
Context: Remember the brutal beatings of Dalits in Una and the lynchings of others. Not to mention the bullying by moral cops.
Inter-faith contact
Congress: Will set up an inter-faith council of leaders of all religions to promote respect for all religions, mutual tolerance and fraternity, hold inter-faith dialogues and enhance cultural exchanges.
Context: A perception exists that hate politics has been used as an instrument of division and exclusion.
Anti-discrimination
Congress: Will pass a law to prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, caste, gender or language in the supply of goods and services such as housing, hostels, hotels and clubs.
Context: Complaints of barring tenants on the basis of religion and dietary habits, which were prevalent even before Modi came to power, have been rising.
Free speech
Congress: Will scrap sedition law and make defamation a civil offence.
Context: Criticism of the government has been construed as sedition and many cases have been slapped.
Several media outlets have also been hit with criminal defamation cases, which can lead to imprisonment, over reports critical of those linked to the Modi government.
Artistic freedom
Congress: Will guarantee artistic freedom in any form without fear of censorship or retribution. Attempts by vigilante groups to censor or intimidate artists will be viewed seriously.
Context: Padmaavat, Loveratri that became Loveyatri, poet Srijato Bandyopadhyay who faced the wrath of a “pro-Hindu” group…. The list is endless.
Aadhaar
Congress: Will ensure that the linking of Aadhaar will be voluntary but encouraged. No one shall be excluded because of non-linking of Aadhaar.
Context: A UPA project that Modi criticised when he was in the Opposition but pursued aggressively after he won the elections. The Aadhaar character changed and it became the biggest symbol of a coercive Big Brother State.
Privacy
Congress: Will pass a law to provide safeguards against unlawful or excessive surveillance and monitoring.
Context: Congress leader Sachin Pilot’s quote — “why is everybody making WhatsApp calls?” — says it all.
Raid raj
Congress: Will amend laws to declare that every investigative agency that has the power to search, seize, attach, summon, interrogate and arrest will be subject to the restrictions imposed by the Constitution and laws.
Context: The political opponents of the government have been complaining of vendetta raids and intimidation by policing agencies.
Electoral bonds
Congress: Will scrap the opaque electoral bond scheme.
Context: The current format has been called a virtual corporate bribery scheme to help the ruling dispensation.
Fake news
Congress: Will pass regulations to stop the spread of fake news and hate speech and punish those who misuse digital and social media.
Context: An “industry” experiencing a boom in recent years.
Defence
Congress: Will create manufacturing capacities in the public sector and in pre-qualified, security-cleared private sector companies.
Context: The Rafale scandal, the omission of the state-run HAL and the allegations swirling around Anil Ambani’s Reliance.
High-value tourists
Congress: Will probe the circumstances under which a number of scamsters were allowed to leave the country.
Context: Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi….
Niti Aayog
Congress: Will scrap the Niti Aayog, which has proved to be a noisy and incompetent intermeddler.
Context: The think tank has been accused of becoming a drumbeater for the government. Niti vice-chairperson Rajiv Kumar is caught in a row for making political comments.
GST
Congress: The GST 2.0 regime will be based on a single, moderate, standard rate of tax on all goods and services. GST 2.0 will be easy to administer, easy to understand by the taxpayer, and easy to comply with. Real estate (all sectors), petroleum products, tobacco and liquor will be brought in.
Context: Remember who boasted that GST means “good and simple tax” and what happened on the ground? Watch this space for a new coinage from GST-launcher Modi.
