Cong manifesto sacred promise to people, vision document: Manpreet

Sarbjit Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 9

Committing that the manifesto for the Punjab polls released on Monday by the Congress leaders, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, is a legal document for the party and the Election Commission of India should also treat it so, the author of the manifesto, Manpreet Singh Badal said it was both- a sacred promise to the people and a vision document for Punjab.

The manifesto not only makes promises to the people of the state but it also carries a charge sheet against the incumbent SAD-BJP government.

Having his footprints all over the document, Manpreet Badal said he took at least eight months to write this manifesto, which, he claimed, was a unique in many ways. “I sat with all senior leaders of the party, including Rahul Gandhi, Capt Amarinder Singh, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Sunil Jakhar and others, to discuss the issues to be included in the manifesto and promises to be made to the people of the state,” Manpreet said.

“I am just its author but inputs have been provided by all senior leaders and people from different walks of life to whom we met to know their perspective on jobs they were engaged in such as trade, industry, farm sector and so on,” Manpreet said.

Whereas the document promises curbing the VIP culture, protection of Punjab’s river waters, war against drugs, debt waiver, governance reforms, legislative reforms, police reforms, war against corruption, provision of quality education and health, promotion of industry and trade, incentives for sports goods industry, cheap power for all commercial ventures, including manufacturing sector and much more, it has points to play on the psyche of the voter.

Over the years, people have developed revulsion against the VIP culture and have a strong disliking for the ones who show-off by taking along gun-wielding security guards and flashing red beacons on their vehicles.

To cash in that revulsion in its favour, the Congress has vowed to do away “Lal Batti” on official vehicles, impose 90 per cent cut in security guards provided to so called VIPs, put two years ban on official foreign tours of all MLAs and officials, medical insurance for all ministers, MLAs and others and no reimbursement of medical bill from the government treasury, no state banquet or dinner, no use of helicopter for CM and so on.

On the pattern of Tamil Nadu where the late Jayalalitha had started government canteens for poor, the Congress has promised to start community kitchens in each district and sub-divisional headquarter to provide decent food at Rs 5 per head.

As the Congress knew well that police functioning remained highly politicised during the past some years, it has made police reforms as one of the main highlight of its manifesto. The entire focus in on eliminating political interference in police functioning at all levels.

Stressing on the de-politicisation of the police, the manifesto promises doing away with halqa in-charge system, fixed hours duty  for policemen, time-bound promotions of constables, head constables and other ranks and humanisation of  police force. The manifesto promises autonomy to the police department to maintain, pursue and ensure the rule of the law.