Sharad Pawar's NCP Manifesto: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-Sharad Chandra Pawar (SCP) on Thursday released its manifesto, named, "Shapath Patra" for the Lok Sabha elections 2024. Inflation, unemployment, farmers, misuse of agencies, privatisation, government jobs, Women's reservations, and safety are some of the key issues highlighted in the poll promise document of Sharad Pawar's NCP.
Unveiling the manifesto, party leader Jayant Patil, "We are releasing our manifesto today, issues which included in the manifesto, our leaders will raise these issues in the parliament...Our manifesto is 'Shapath Patra'".
"Inflation is on the rise, farmers are in bad shape, and unemployment is at its peak. In the last ten years, misuse of agencies, and privatisation-like issues have been on the rise. We have already expressed our stand over all these issues," Patil said.
"We will reduce the price of the LPG gas, petrol and diesel price. If we get in power we will fill the vacant places in government jobs...We will also work on Women's reservations. Strict laws will be brought to ensure women's safety," he added.
Speaking at the event, Sharad Pawar replied to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's "Sharad Pawar should apologise for the farmers' suicide when he was the Agriculture Minister" remark, saying, "In the last ten years farmers' suicides have increased. Amit Shah should first tell what he has done to stop suicides in the last ten years".
Further lashing out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pawar said, "The Prime Minister of the country does not belong to any one caste or religion, there is a need for public awareness about this. Efforts are being made to break communal unity."
His statement comes days after PM Modi was criticised by the opposition for his "infiltrators" remark. At a poll rally in Rajasthan, the Prime Minister had alleged that Congress, if voted to power, would redistribute hard-earned money and valuables of the people to "infiltrators" and "those who have more children". He then went on to name the Muslim community.
Pawar, further said, "Most corruption in the country is seen in electoral bonds. In the first phase, people's opinion is showing anti-BJP opinion, hence BJP is worried".
In 2023, the NCP split after Ajit Pawar walked away with the majority of the MLAs and joined hands with the saffron party. In a major shocker to his uncle Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar, backed by several MLAs took an oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra in the Eknath Shinde-led government, thereby splitting the party.
(With Inputs from Mrityunjay)