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