Congress Poll Manifesto

 

Dear Rahul Gandhi

You have invited suggestions from public for possible incorporation in the Congress Poll Manifesto , if found suitable

Based on my perception of what would benefit the public most ( in order of importance ) , following is how Congress manifesto should read :

Ø   Corruption

We will introduce / pass , a  of Jan Lok-Pal Bill within 2 months of assuming power at the Center

Ø   Jobs

  

     We will create 15 million jobs per year , starting from 2015 , especially thru rapid investments in infrastructure projects , which generate millions of jobs. To bring this about , we will introduce special Infrastructure Bonds , whose interest will be tax-free for 25 years.

No questions will be asked as to the source of funds invested by individuals or by Organizations / Institutions

Ø   Economy

We will liberalize FDI in Insurance / Retail and all other non-defense related sectors of economy

Ø   Productive Use of  Un-Productive Money

We will create a structure, whereby Private sector and Religious Trusts ( such as Tirupati / Lord Padmanabhan / Shirdi SaiBaba / Satya SaiBaba / Siddhi Vinayak / VaishnoDevi etc ) , will come forward to invest , at least Rs 10 lakh crores per year for the next 5 years. This will be done thru,

·          No-Tax  ( for 10 years ) , “ Job Creation “ Bonds , exclusively devoted to creation of Jobs for poor people in less-developed states

·         Enabling investments into these bonds , thru a Voluntary Disclosure Scheme ( VDS ) where no questions will be asked as to the source of the funds. This will bring back Rs 35 lakh crores stashed away unproductively / secretly by Indian nationals and Trusts

·         We will create similar “ Job Creation “ Bonds where subscription will be restricted to,

#  NRIs  /  PIOs

#  Foreign NGOS / Foreign Charitable Trusts (eg Bill Gates Foundation )

#  Foreign Sovereign Funds ( China / Oil-rich countries etc )

  

·         We will introduce this measure within 6 months of coming to power

Ø   CBI

We will make CBI as much  independent of the Central Government as possible ,  by making Chief of CBI report to a panel of retired Judges of the Supreme Court

CBI will have its own Expense Budget ( as part of the Central Budget ) and will be free to hire additional professionals without needing permission from any Central Ministry

Ø   Electoral Reforms

We will introduce , within 6 months , a Electoral Reforms Bill in Lok Sabha. This will have provisions for

·         NOTA

·         Right to Recall

·         Negative Vote …………..etc

Ø   Representation of People Act

We will amend this Act within 6 months of assuming power , by incorporating provisions for

·         Acceptance of donations from abroad

·         Acceptance of ALL donations to political parties only thru cheques

·         Issue of paper receipts for all donations

·         Publishing on party web site ,

    #   full details of funding / expenditure / donations etc

    #   full details of Assets / Liabilities / Income Tax Returns filed etc of Senior party functionaries ( including those holding Ministerial positions ) – updated annually

   #   full details of FIRs / Court-Cases ( whether criminal or civil ) filed against any Senior Party Functionaries ( including Ministers ), with punishments awarded , if any

   #   number of Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha meetings attended by its elected representatives

Ø   Right to Information Act

        As  interpreted by the CIC ( Chief Information Commissioner ) / confirmed by the Supreme Court and advised by the Attorney General , we will ensure that all political parties are covered by RTI

Ø   Naxal  /  Maoist Menace

We will eliminate this menace thru full integration of these Tribal areas into the mainstream of the Social / Political and Economic development.

We will do this by granting special status to these areas , where industries / businesses / NGOs , will be encouraged to set up Skills Training Institutes , by giving accelerated depreciation benefit for the Capital Expenditure incurred and 150 % write-off on the recurring annual revenue expenditure

Ø   Relations with Pakistan

Whereas we will encourage constructive dialogue with Pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues , this will be done only after Pakistan dismantles all terror-training camps on its territory , as certified by the Home Minister

   Dear Rahul :

 I am not sure how many citizens will take the trouble to spell out their suggestions like this

My last suggestion is that you frame a “ Multiple Choice Questionnaire “

Publish this on as many Media as possible – especially Online Web sites

Then ask people to record their choices

A Smart Phone based Mobile App would be great !

·          hemen  parekh  (  26  Oct  2013  )

PS :

Earlier , I have forwarded somewhat similar suggestions to Shri Murli Manohar Joshi , who is in charge of drawing up Poll Manifesto for BJP

But then , when it comes to serving the national interest , there ought to be no differences amongst the political parties , as to the goals , even if the means to reach these goals may differ somewhat