JOIN USThe Aam Aadmi Party’s manifesto, released on Thursday, does reflect its priority to fight corruption and black money, but the nascent party has also come out with an alternative perspective on “robust growth with holistic well-being”.
The party has pleaded for social control over resources, while saying that centralisation leads to crony capitalism.
The AAP has come up with its perspective on a self-reliant, welfare state where there would be universal access to health and education, and minorities would have protection and the opportunity for growth.
It has assured Minimum Support Price to farmers, to the tune of 50 per cent more than what they invest on inputs. It has also assured implementation of the Swaminathan Commission Report.
“No party is capable of ending corruption. The BJP has chosen Nishank and Yeddyurappa, the Congress Kapil Sibbal, Sharad Pawar and Naveen Jindal,” said AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal. He claimed that corruption was reduced to minimum during his 49-day rule in Delhi. He also attacked Narendra Modi for his inability to free his state of corruption. “For everything, including driving licences and jobs in the government, people have to pay,” he said.
The AAP’s manifesto declared a completely decentralised model of governance — Swaraj, which would enable people of every village and urban locality to directly control hospitals, schools, civil works and all other facilities.
The decentralisation of power and right-based empowerment will be extended to every section of society, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and minorities.The manifesto also opposed the “communal politics of the BJP” and the “vote bank politics of the Congress”.
The party has declared “security and non-discrimination” of Muslims, the largest minority of the country. The party has assured reservation to Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians, end of police harassment of Muslim youth and facilitation of education to Muslim children.It has also assured radical changes to eliminate creamy layers from taking advantage of reservation.
The party has declared Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of the country. However, it has assured devolution of power to the state. It has favoured review and reform of the Armed Forces Special Power Act. The AAP has also asked for a foreign policy directed towards a multi-polar world and better, stronger economic relations with neighbours, including China, without compromising on security.