ENARADA, Mysore, August 18, 2013:
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president G. Parameshwara today disclosed that Congress Party Vice President Rahul Gandhi will evaluate the congress government in the state once in three months.
“Rahul Gandhi is going to evaluate Karnataka Government based on its present performance and implementation of the party’s election manifesto” he declared.
Speaking to journalists he said that there is a direction from the AICC on this connection. “The Ministers in the government and all the congress legislators would also be evaluated on the same period” he said.
He also clarified that the party has asked all the ministers in the government to attend the KPCC office once in the month to hear the grievances of the party workers. This was not implemented so far since the government was busy with budget sessions and the by-elections in the state. However KPCC has been preparing a time table on this direction and same would be effective from next month , he added.
Commenting on the upcoming bye-election to two loksabha seats, he said the by polls would not pose any big challenge to the Congress, but the results would help the party chalk out the modalities for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
KPCC chief strongly alleged that on one hand JD-S supremo and former prime minister H D Deve gowda claiming that there was no compromise on the party stand on the BJP but on the other hand seeking support in the elections.
“JD-S should clarify their stand whether they are with the NDA or Third Front” he said.
It was pathetic condition of the BJP, being the national party not able to find candidates for the by-elections and extending the support to JD-S, he said.
The by-elections to two loksabha seats in the state was not warranted and it was just because of the H D Kumaraswamya and Chaluvaraya swamy of JD-S who have resigned and contested assembly polls with high expectations of forming the government .
Parameswara also clarified that the party has officially never sought the support from the other parties including SP and other parties as it was individual candidates effort to seek support from others.
Replying to a question on him joining the government as Deputy Chief Minister, he pointed out that such decisions will be taken by high command.
Congress Poll Manifesto
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 :
Corruption
We will introduce / pass , a of Jan Lok-Pal Bill within 2 months of assuming power at the Center
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
Economy
We will liberalize FDI in Insurance / Retail and all other non-defense related sectors of economy
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
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
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
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
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
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
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