The Congress manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls, released today by party chief Sonia Gandhi, sounds more populist than reformist and promises to usher in ‘‘social democracy’’. The party makes a historic point by mentioning the ‘‘various allies’’ of its coalition and that this election is ‘‘not between one party and another,’’ but between ‘‘opposite ideologies.’’While making it clear it will be ‘‘selective on issues like privatisation’’, the party has played to the gallery, promising one crore jobs every year, a job per family and an employment guarantee act. Yet it aims at an economic growth rate of 8 to 10 per cent (as against 7 to 8 per cent in its 1999 manifesto).As part of administrative reforms, the party promises that ‘‘protection will be extended to all whistleblowers through statutory means, if necessary.’’For the first time, the Congress mentions Ayodhya and states that ‘‘if negotiations are held, they must be between the parties to the dispute’’.On social reforms, the party promises reservation for Muslims who are ‘‘socially and educationally backward’’ and reservation for economically backward. On privatisation, the party implies that it would be the last resort. ‘‘Congress will approach privatisation selectively. Disinvestment will not be resorted to merely to raise revenue to meet short-term targets, as NDA has been doing.’’Committing that the Congress is for ‘‘strengthening’’ the public sector in ‘‘strategic areas, including infrastructure,’’ it stresses that ‘‘there is still an important role for the public sector as a venture capitalist in new areas.’’ The manifesto makes it clear that public sector companies which can be ‘‘revived through new management will be identified.’’ According to the party think-tank, this ‘‘selective approach’’ was adopted against a ‘‘bolder statement’’ on the lines of the 1999 manifesto.Regarding Congress’ liberalism as against the NDA’s liberalisation, party leader Salman Khursheed said: ‘‘The BJP’s liberalisation is a conservative market attitude. The Congress is stating that re-distribution of resources is also the government’s job.’’ ‘‘This social democracy model is not just about wealth generation but also on social sector,’’ he said.On the difference in the approach this time, Jairam Ramesh, one of the authors of the manifesto, says ‘‘The stress is social cohesion with equality of opportunities, accelerated growth with jobs and empowerment of weaker sections.’’‘‘The 32-page manifesto is different from the 1999 80-page manifesto as it is meant more for the youth of the country.’’ Apart from youth, the party’s focus is on farmers with promises to increase resource allocation in agriculture. Similarly, the party promises 6 per cent of GDP investment in primary and secondary education.Hinting at the recent moves of the NDA government on IIMs, it promises that it ‘‘will ensure that all institutions of higher learning will retain the sense of autonomy that they have enjoyed in previous Congress regimes.’’To help poor students find place in institutions of excellence, the Congress suggests setting up ‘‘an education development finance company to provide loans at affordable rates.’’
