Lok Sabha Polls: CPI(M) Manifesto Pledges To Repeal CAA, UAPA, PMLA As It Promises MSP For Farmers

CPI(M) Manifesto For Lok Sabha Elections 2024: The CPI(M) pledges to repeal contentious laws such as the CAA, UAPA, and PMLA while promising to legally guarantee an MSP for farmers.

CPI(M) Manifesto For Lok Sabha Elections 2024: The Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI(M), has released its manifesto for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, reiterating its call for defeating the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and bolstering the Left. This stance echoes its position outlined in the 2019 manifesto, asserting that the secular character of democracy has been compromised on both occasions. In a notable departure from its previous manifestos, the CPI(M) manifesto for 2024 pledges to repeal contentious laws such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), news agency PTI reported.

Additionally, the manifesto underscores the party's commitment to defending secularism, a recurring theme from its 2019 manifesto as it claims that India is facing an “existential crisis”.

Lok Sabha Election 2024: CPI(M) Promises MSP For Farmers, Removal Of 100-Day Cap On MGNREGA

The CPI(M) manifesto promises to legally guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for farmers in accordance with the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission. This commitment echoes the party's stance in its 2019 manifesto, which advocated for farmers' rights to sell their produce at an MSP that is at least 50% higher than the total cost of production, PTI's report stated.

Highlighting unemployment as a major failure of the Modi government, the CPI(M) manifesto for 2024 advocates for the inclusion of the 'Right to Work' in fundamental rights. It proposes legislation to ensure employment in urban areas and the provision of unemployment allowances.

Moreover, the manifesto calls for the removal of the 100-day cap on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), doubling its budget, and filling all vacant government posts.

The manifesto advocates for the immediate implementation of reservation for women in Parliament and assemblies, building upon the passage of the relevant bill. It also includes commitments to universalise the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) to cover all children aged 0-6 years and to formulate a new National Youth Policy.

The CPI(M) manifesto underscores the party's stance on reversing the privatisation of the public sector, advocating for taxation on the super-rich. Additionally, it emphasises the right to free healthcare and criticises the Centre for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the CPI(M) reiterates its stance on removing the death penalty from statutes, consistent with its previous manifestos.