• Congress: The Only Choice 2 • Congress or BJP 4 • The UPA Report Card 6 • Landmark Legislation: 2009-2014 8 THE OPEN MANIFESTO PROCESS: • Our Pledge: A 15 Point Agenda for Socio-economic and Political Transformation 10 PATHBREAKING POLITICAL REFORM • The Detailed Action Plan 2014-2019 14 The Indian National Congress has pioneered an entirely new way in which TABLE OF CONTENTS political party election manifestos are prepared. It is our firm belief that the Indian National Congress Manifesto must reflect the voice and aspirations of 1. A New Future for the Hands that Build the Nation 14 2. Economic Growth 14 the people and a new vision for the country. • An Economic Roadmap for 2014-2019 15 • The Indian National Congress’s 100 Day Agenda for Growth 16 There were several consultations held across the country over a five-month • Accelerating Job Creation and Skill Development 17 period (from October, 2013 to March, 2014) with different stakeholders, to 3. Protecting the Interests of Labour 19 4. Right to Health 20 get their inputs on India’s future growth, development and inclusion agenda. 5. Empowering Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes 21 The Congress Vice President Shri Rahul Gandhi participated in several of 6. Women’s Empowerment and Protection of Children 24 these interactions including those with representatives from Scheduled Castes, 7. Safeguarding Minorities 26 Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, minorities, women organisations, 8. Youth and Student Agenda 27 • Building the Best Education System in the World for our Students 28 youth, labour, industry, Panchayat representatives, ex-servicemen, railway • Promoting Sports 29 porters, rickshaw pullers, salt-pan workers and farmers. In addition to this a • Other Youth Issues 30 dedicated website (www.incmanifesto.in) was established to invite suggestions 9. Rural Development and Panchayati Raj 31 10. Agriculture and Farmer Welfare 32 from all citizens for the Manifesto. A separate website for the “National Student 11. Accelerating Industrial and Manufacturing Growth 34 Manifesto” was also created. 12. Infrastructure 36 • Transport 36 We received tens of thousands of suggestions through these consultations, on • Energy 37 13. Urban Development 38 the websites and social media platforms, phones, emails, etc. These suggestions 14. Housing 39 were carefully considered and have been included, wherever feasible. 15. Environment 40 16. Innovation, Information and Communication Technology 41 We believe this unique exercise has made the Manifesto inclusive and fully 17. Fighting Corruption 43 18. Governance Reforms 43 reflective of the voice of the people of India. • Electoral Reforms 44 • Legal and Judicial Reforms 44 • Police Reforms 44 19. Internal Security 46 20. Defence and Welfare of Ex-Servicemen 46 21. Foreign Policy 47 • An Appeal The Indian National Congress has made modernise the Indian economy and bring regional balance, progress in backward communal harmony, and economic growth seminal contributions to India’s unity, about the information and conmunications areas and a strong conviction that in order and social justice, are two sides of the same integrity, secular polity and democratic technology revolution. In the 1990’s, radical to prosper every citizen must have the coin and must always go hand-in-hand. federalism. We have championed the rights economic reforms were instituted leading to opportunity to evolve to the best of her or of the weaker sections, created conditions for accelerated economic growth and widespread his ability. Ours is a Nation of incredible but The Indian National Congress is the only faster economic growth and have been the economic and social transformation. At the often untapped talent that needs and deserves Party that combines experience and youth, principal instrument of social and economic turn of the millennium, we brought about to be unleashed. wisdom and exuberance, achievement and change, the preferred political choice for a “Regime of Rights” marking a paradigm ambition. crores of women and men. shift in India’s politics and development. We envision an India where power would Beginning with the Right to Information, have been devolved to the grassroots and to The Indian National Congress seeks a renewed Our central values resonate the very idea of Right to Work (Mahatma Gandhi National the marginalized so that they can shape their mandate on the strength of its heritage, its India, that has come to us over the centuries, Rural Employment Guarantee Act), Right to own destiny. record of service, both in and out of power, an India that rejoices in and celebrates Education and the Right to Food, we have and its clear vision for the future. its many diversities, and builds on these launched a radical progressive economic and We envision an India charting a new future diversities to strengthen the bonds of unity social development discourse. rather than rewriting its past; living in through secularism, pluralism, inclusion and harmony, not in turmoil; thriving in peace social justice. This is the India that Mahatma Gandhi envisaged. This is the India for which our Freedom Fighters gave their all. This is the India that the Indian National Congress has always dedicated itself to. Ours is the one Party with CONG RESS a history of a liberal philosophy that has enabled the country to build strong political and economic institutions and transform itself. THE ONL Y CHOICE In the 1950’s, the Indian National Congress put India on the path of industrialisation through the public sector, The depth and breadth of its political and rather than suffering in conflict; imbued with ensuring both rapid and balanced regional administrative experience makes the Indian humility, not with arrogance. growth across the face of our country. National Congress most intrinsically aware A massive infrastructure for science and and closely associated with the beliefs, and We envision an India where the government technology was also established. In the 1960’s, principles and need of the people of India. serves the people rather than where people the Green Revolution was launched to make We are the Party that has always believed in serve the government. India self-sufficient in food grains and a direct the idealism and leadership abilities of the assault on poverty. In the 1970’s, further gains youth. We have remained connected with We believe in a simple universal truth: equity were made through the Green Revolution and their aspirations and have been inspired by and opportunity for all. a White Revolution was unleashed that was their restless vibrancy. to make India the world’s largest producer of The Indian National Congress is the only milk. In the 1980’s, economic reforms were Our vision is one of inclusive and sustainable Party that believes that economic growth and launched in response to new challenges, to growth fuelled by agricultural development, 2 3 ince it formation, 128 years ago, The Indian National Congress stands Aware of the challenges thrown up by the Congress is the only natural choice for the Sthe Indian National Congress has in sharp contrast to the divisive and undemocratic and exclusionary politics of people of India. spoken for every section of Indian disruptive ideology of the BJP. We have the BJP, particularly in the recent past, the society and has mirrored India’s “unity always been the secular and progressive Indian National Congress is committed in diversity”. force in this country and strived to unite to confronting these challenges with all religions, castes and communities in the determination. ideological battle against those who would The Indian National Congress’s polarize and divide our society. We do not respond by subverting secular and liberal ethos has a place democratic institutions and blocking for each and every Indian. Our democratic Constitution and Parliament session after session, year after Ours is an inclusive vision. institutions are the cornerstone of Modern year. We do not respond by turning people India. All of us, who wish to build a better against each other and lighting the fires of India and rid the country of poverty and communal hatred. We do not respond by CONGRE SS OR BJP Secular Liberal Nationalism vs Narrow-minded Communalism Inclusive Democracy vs Divisive Authoritarianism The BJP’s narrow and communal corruption, must respect these institutions proposing either that the structures of perspective denies equality to all. and work through them. They are the democracy be handed to one single person Theirs is an exclusionary legitimate instruments in our hands. or that they be viciously undermined. doctrine. No individual or authority can replace the values and processes of democratic The Indian National Congress responds governance. through legitimate peaceful, democratic and Constitutional means. These are the Peace cannot be constructed on conflict. pillars on which our great Nation stands. It Societies cannot be built on injustice and is for this reason that the Indian National hatred. 4 5 t was the tireless campaign and vision The 2009 Mandate was to safeguard and advance We let the record speak for itself. Iof Sonia Gandhi, President of the the interests of India’s farmers and create an Indian National Congress, that brought environment conducive to their prosperity. • The Congress-led UPA has brought 14 more than the Rs. 7,248 crore it was ten together and gave shape to the United crore people out of poverty in the last years ago. Progressive Alliance (UPA) headed by This has been achieved in substantial measure. ten years. The rate of poverty decline Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has tripled as compared to the preceding • Today, minorities have 43,52,000 bank decade. This is the greatest achievement of accounts in 121 districts of the country. in May 2004. The 2009 Mandate was for empowering the poor and the marginalized, especially the UPA governments, and we are proud The total volume of lending stands at Rs.