Congress releases manifesto ‘Nyay Patra’;

NEW DELHI: Right to apprenticeship, a legal guarantee for MSP, and passing a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs are among the promises made by the Congress in its manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls released on Friday.

The manifesto, titled ‘Nyay Patra’, was released at the AICC headquarters in the presence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

It focused on five ‘pillars of justice’ and 25 guarantees under them.

The opposition party promised to fill nearly 30 lakh vacancies in sanctioned posts at various levels in the central government.

The party also said it would implement a 10 per cent quota in jobs, and educational institutions for economically weaker sections (EWS) for all castes, and communities without discrimination if it comes to power.

The Rajasthan model of cashless insurance of up to Rs 25 lakh will be adopted for universal healthcare, it said.

The Congress will pass a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations for SC, ST and OBC if it comes to power in the general elections beginning April 19, the party promised.

The Congress also said it would conduct a nationwide socio-economic and caste census.

Appealing to people to look beyond religion, language, and caste and choose wisely to install a democratic government, the party said the general elections present an opportunity to radically change the style of governance that has been in evidence over past decade.

It said it guarantees a new ‘right to apprenticeship act’ to provide a one-year apprenticeship to every diploma holder or graduate below the age of 25.

Besides, it said it will give a legal guarantee to Minimum Support Prices (MSP) announced by the government every year as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission.