Congress manifesto vs Modi ki Guarantee.

The Congress Party has published its manifesto, titled Nyay (Justice) Patra (letter), for the ongoing general election. manifesto.inc. At 48 pages, it promises something for everyone of the 1,440 million citizens of India (worldometer). On page 7, it "guarantees that it will pass an amendment to raise the 50% cap on reservations for SC (Scheduled Caste), ST (Scheduled Tribe) and OBC (Other Backward Classes)." On page 17, "We will reserve one-half (50%) of central government jobs for women starting 2025." More than 50% reservation for lower castes plus 50% for women takes it to well over 100%. "Reservation came into force on 26 January 1950 in Independent India. The protection or reservation given by Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar to the backward castes was appropriate." Ambedkar "had said that this reservation should be only for 10 years. There should be a review every 10 years," and "if reservation leads to development of any class, then the next generation should not be given the benefit of this system." wrote Dr Shanker Suwan Singh. Meant to help the disadvantaged sections of society, reservation has created divisions between various groups, given enormous opportunities for exploitation to politicians and civil servants and weakened the civil society (Britannica). "Forty-seven villages in eastern Rajasthan's Karauli district have been without water from Panchna dam for 15 years," because the supply "was cut by the district administration in 2006 when the Gurjars began an agitation for reservations under the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category in the town of Hindaun in Karauli district and the Meenas, who are already in that category, opposed them." The Wire. In February 2024, "The Manipur High Court...modified its 2023 order in which it recommended the ST status for the Meiteis community. The ruling led to widespread protests in Manipur and sparked ethnic clashes, which killed more than 200 people since May 3 last year." Mint. As a result of the ruling, in May 2023, "The protests by tribals against the Meitei community have left 54 dead, including an Indian Revenue Services officer who was dragged out of his house and killed by a mob and a police commando who was shot dead in his village." ET. The Patra promises to give Rs 100,000 per year to every poor family, guaranteed minimum support prices (MSP) to farmers, fill 3 million vacancies in government jobs, abolish Agnipath scheme and restore normal length of service in armed forces, will limit Cess to 5%, create a single moderate GST rate and spend on infrastructure. However, there is no word on how they will finance all this spending while lowering GST rate and maintaining stable personal income tax. The 2024 Budget estimated fiscal deficit at 5.8% in 2023-24 and 5.1% in 2024-25. pib.gov.in. In April 2024, Moody's maintained India's credit rating at Baa3, which is the lowest investment grade. ET. Another rating agency, "Fitch Ratings said that the slightly faster pace of fiscal deficit reduction does not significantly change India's sovereign credit rating profile." DH. Will people analyse the Congress manifesto? The 813.5 million people who receive free food grains (pib.gov.in), plus all those receiving subsidies will just search for what is in it for them and weigh it against the BJP manifesto which promises Modi ki Guarantee (Y20). They won't care that what they receive in subsidies they will pay through inflation. India will grow. Not because of governance. But, in spite of it.