AIADMK promises I-T exemption limit hike

Aiming for a bigger role at the national level, the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday announced 43 ambitious policies and poll promises, including fixing fuel prices and hiking the income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh.

Releasing the party manifesto, chief minister and AIADMK supremo J Jayalaltiha said, “We have spelt out policies and promises to implement many schemes, and aim not only for the development of Tamil Nadu but also for the progress of the entire nation.”

“To take strong policy decisions, it is essential to have a determined, bold and strong leadership. The AIADMK will provide such a leadership,” said a key promise in the manifesto.

The party has promised replacement of the current food security scheme with a universal public distribution scheme, increasing supply of subsidised domestic gas cylinders, hiking individual income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh, review of oil and gas pricing mechanisms, rescinding foreign direct investment in retail, and interlinking of rivers at the national level, among others.

The manifesto alleged that over the last decade, the Centre was not in a position to take any coordinated decisions as it was afflicted with policy paralysis.

“If a government is formed with the participation of the AIADMK, necessary action will be taken to ensure that there is strong and coordinated policy-making, cutting across sectors and departments,” it said.

Pledging to provide a corruption-free government at the Centre, the manifesto said: “There would be no room for even the word corruption if the nation's assets and natural resources are not sought to be given away at throwaway prices to private entities, but are transacted only by means of public auctions.”

According to the AIADMK, action will be taken to maintain the price level of oil and domestic gas, while the number of subsidised gas cylinders would be increased. The party also promised to take action to modify the coal mining policy to ensure that state public enterprises are able to obtain coal at lower prices, and at the same time, revenue to the Central government is increased.

The party said it is determined to ensure that punishment is given through the International Court of Justice to all those who committed war crimes against Tamil minorities during the strife in Sri Lanka.