The Bharatiya Janata Party has launched scathing criticism against the Congress party’s manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, labelling it a “bundle of lies” designed to sow confusion among voters.
According to BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi, the Opposition party has consistently failed to fulfil its promises made in previous manifestos for both Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
Trivedi also highlighted the BJP’s track record, citing low inflation and high growth rates except during the Covid pandemic under BJP rule.
Named the ‘Nyay Patra’, the Congress manifesto emphasises work, welfare, and wealth, pledging to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s Statehood and provide legal guarantees for Minimum Support Price or MSP, among other initiatives. However, notable omissions include the Old Pension Scheme or OPS, a key aspect of recent Congress campaigns, which former Home Minister P Chidambaram defended by citing ongoing government reviews.
In addition to promises of job and educational reservations, an urban employment program, and a new right to apprenticeship act, the manifesto has sparked controversy ahead of the Assam Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma raised concerns about the manifesto’s origins, questioning if the Congress enlisted a foreign agency for its drafting. The CM alleges that the manifesto aims to destabilise elected State governments, reintroduce the contentious ‘triple talaq’ law, and lacks specific timelines for implementation.
Furthermore, CM Himanta accuses the Congress of using misleading images from Thailand and America, misrepresenting them as Indian scenes, raising suspicions about foreign involvement in the manifesto’s creation.
