The Trinamool Congress Party on Wednesday released its manifesto for 18th Lok Sabha Election with 10 big promises including the assurance to repeal Citizenship (Amendment) Act, National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Bengal.
The election is set to begin on April 19 and Coochbehar, Alipurduar, and Jalpaiguri will go to the polls in the first phase.
While releasing the manifesto, the TMC said, “Let's overthrow the BJP Zamindars and pave the way for a dignified life for all!"
"We commit to uplift every Indian with guaranteed employment, universal housing, free LPG cylinders, assured MSP for farmers, scholarships for SC, ST, OBC students, and many other initiatives,” it said.
The party’s manifesto will be available in six languages, including Nepali and Oi Chiki, which is the script used for the Santhali language.
The promises will be fulfilled once the Trinamool forms the government in the Centre as part of the INDIA bloc, Trinamool leaders said, adding that Trinamool's support to the Congress-led alliance in the Centre though there has been no alliance in the state.
TMC’s 10 key promises include:
1. 100 days of guaranteed work will be provided to all job card holders and all workers will receive a minimum wage of ₹400 per day
2. BPL families across the country will be assured dignified housing, ensuring safe and secure homes for everyone
3. Free 10 gas cylinders to BPL families per year providing access to clean cooking fuel
4. Doorstep-free ration delivery to all ration card holders who will receive 5 kg of free ration per month.
5. Increased allowance for higher education of the SC/ST. Current Old Age allowance for individuals aged 60 and above will be increased to ₹1,000 per month
6. Swaminathan Commission recommendations will be implemented; MSP will be legally guaranteed for India's farmers, set at a minimum of 50 per cent higher than the average cost of production of all crops.
7. The cost of petrol, diesel and related products will be capped to ensure affordability and to manage fluctuations in prices, a 'Price Stabilisation Fund' will be established
8. One-year apprenticeship with monthly stipend for all graduate and diploma holders upto 25 years of age. Student Credit Cards of up to ₹10 Lakh will be provided for higher education. Number of higher education scholarships for SCs, STs and OBCs students will be tripled.
9. CAA will be repealed; NRC will be stopped. There will be no Uniform Civil Code in the country.
10. Welfare schemes like Kanyashree for girls across the country.
Mamata Banerjee was in Assam during the manifesto release for campaigning for four party candidates. Addressing an election rally, Mamata Banerjee said the BJP has made the country a "detention camp" and if INDIA forms the government at the Centre, the CAA and NRC will be scrapped.
"They (BJP) made the entire country a detention camp... I have never seen such a dangerous election in my life," Mamata said, cautioning that there would be no democracy and elections if Narendra Modi returned to power for the third consecutive term.
