2004 Parliamentary Elections: Political Parties and Manifestos

27 Apr, 2004    ·   1381

B Rajeshwari makes a comparative study of the election manifestos of the various political parties and differentiates their perspectives on crucial issues


The election manifestos of the political parties for the 2004 Parliamentary elections were announced in the beginning of April 2004. A study of these manifestos reveals their approach towards crucial issues. This brief analysis includes a comparative understanding of the policies of four major national parties, NDA, Congress (I), CPI (M) and CPI (ML).

 

External Relations

All four political parties believe in dialogue with Pakistan, but the NDA wants to continue a dialogue on the basis of the Joint Statement issued in Islamabad in January 2004; the Congress wants to hold talks on the basis of the 1972 Simla agreement. The two left parties are clear about not allowing any role for the United States in mediating between India and Pakistan. The hostile attitude of the Left parties towards the United States reflects their ideological stand. All the parties have a very positive orientation towards SAARC, with the NDA optimistic proceeding towards having a common currency within the SAARC countries. The NDA has an elaborate programme for strengthening India’s relations with China and the South East Asian countries. It specifically wants to resolve the border problem with China and initiate the BIMST-EC process with the South East Asian countries, apart from activating the Mekong-Ganga cooperation proposal. The Congress does not have any specific plans for improving India-South-East Asian relations while the CPI (M) believes in making special efforts to strengthen the India-China-Russia triangle.

 

 

It is quite clear that the NDA has a more comprehensive manifesto on external relations than any other party, and mentions most of the countries that are vital to India, including Central Asia, West Asia, European Union, United States and the countries of Latin America and Africa. On the contrary, the Congress manifesto does not provide much detail on improving relations with other countries, except for Pakistan. As a major opposition party, its manifesto could definitely have been more detailed. The Congress does not also have anything different or innovative to offer in its manifesto on external affairs, which could attract the attention of the electorate.

Policies

NDA

Congress

CPI (M)

CPI (ML)

Pakistan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continue the dialogue process for a lasting solution to all outstanding issues, including Jammu & Kashmir, on the basis of the Joint Statement issued in Islamabad in January 2004

 

Dialogue with Pakistan on all issues including Jammu and Kashmir. Advocates formal and informal talks on the basis of the historic Shimla Agreement of 1972. Pakistan’s sponsorship of cross-border terrorism must end completely. If it continues, then the Indian state has the responsibility to protect its citizens.

Dialogue with Pakistan should be pursued seriously without US intervention; promotion of people to people relations between the two countries.

Cut in defence spending, easing of visa restrictions between India and Pakistan and resolution of all outstanding disputes between the two countries through bilateral dialogue without American mediation in any manner.

South Asia

Further strengthen the SAARC process; implement free-trade in South Asia; and work towards realizing the vision for a South Asian Economic Union with a common currency for the region.

To strengthen SAARC and launch major regional projects in areas like energy and water that will bring benefits to all countries of the region.

Special attention to promote SAARC cooperation and improving relations with all neighbouring countries in South Asia.

Rejection of regional hegemonist trappings of Indian ruling classes and promotion of closer and friendly ties with all neighbouring countries.

China & South East Asia

Expand economic cooperation; continue the dialogue process to achieve a mutually satisfactory resolution of the boundary issue. Strengthen the Look-East Policy to deepen the India-ASEAN relationship; initiate the BIMST-EC process; activate the Mekong-Ganga cooperation initiative; deepen economic cooperation with Koreas; and enrich strategic partnership with Japan.

Expand trade and investment with China and with countries of East Asia.

Promote multipolarity in international relations; special attention to improving all-round relations with China, and special efforts to coordinate relations between India-Russia and China.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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United States

Broaden and deepen the multidimensional relations with the United States.

Engage the United States in scientific, technological, strategic and commercial cooperation.

Opposition to US superpower unilateralism and the expanding role of NATO globally; ending the occupation of Iraq by the US and its allies and strengthening the multilateral forums like the UN to deal with all disputes between countries.

Withdrawal of Anglo-American forces from Iraq and cancellation of all arrangements of military cooperation between India and the US and India and Israel; withdrawal of US military bases and all other forms of strategic intervention from South Asia.

Russia

Further consolidate the strategic partnership with Russia, with a stronger underpinning of economic relations.

Reaffirm the traditional bonds with Russia and Central Asian countries.

Fostering close ties with Russia and special efforts to coordinate relations between India, Russia and China.

 

 

 

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European Union

Intensify cooperation with European Union.

Reaffirm the traditional bonds with the European countries.

 

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West Asia

Rejuvenate the traditional bonds with the West Asian countries.

To revive the country’s close ties with West Asia and other non-aligned countries.

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Central Asia

Re-establish the age-old ties with the countries in Central Asia.

 

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Other Countries

Develop extensive relations with all countries in Africa, Central America, Latin America, and Pacific Ocean countries like Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji.

 

 

 

 

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Expanding the scope of cooperation between major developing countries like Brazil, and South Africa.

 

 

 

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United Nations

To secure permanent membership of the UN Security Council.

 

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Democratizing the Security Council and the UN structure.

 

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Internal Security

The Left parties are more concerned with the United States, and the removal of its missiles from the Indian Ocean Rim and scrapping Indo-US military cooperation. The CPI (M) wants to create a national security apparatus that will work within the framework of the parliamentary democratic system. The CPI (ML) is in favour of scrapping POTA and disbanding of all the private armies. The NDA manifesto provides at elaborate length packages for defence, law and order, naxalite movement and federal crimes. Interestingly, the NDA manifesto specifically promises to realize the goal of a riot-free India. This is part of coalition politics and is probably intended by the BJP to convince its coalition partners about its much debated secular image. The Congress, on the other hand, does not have anything to say on naxalite violence and federal crimes. On defence, the Congress promises to initiate a fuller discussion in Parliament on the Subrahmanyam Committee Report on Kargil, and modernization of the armed forces. To improve the law and order situation, the Congress recommends making the National Security Council a professional and effective institution. The Congress manifesto does cash in by questioning the BJP’s role in instigating communal violence, which threatens the internal security of the country. The TDP, too does not have any specific policy to combat the naxalite violence in the state, and simply states that it will follow a multi-pronged strategy to tackle Left extremism.

 

Policies

NDA

Congress

CPI (M)

CPI (ML)

Defence

Making operational the Rs. 25,000-crore Defense Modernization Fund, which was announced in the Interim Budget - 2004; minimizing delays and procedural bottlenecks, which push up costs and cause obsolescence; achieving greater efficiency in defense spending; giving a further boost to indigenization of defense production and encouragement to private sector participation; making defense exports a thrust area; continue to further augment welfare measures for ex-servicemen and war widows; create adequate opportunities for retired officers to contribute to development activities where they can put their skills and training to productive use; necessary measures to make service in the Armed Forces an attractive career option for the educated Indian youth.

Ensure that all delays in the modernization of armed forces are eliminated and that funds budgeted for modernization are spent to the fullest; have a discussion in Parliament on the Subrahmanyam Committee Report on Kargil and move resolutely to implement its recommendations to strengthen our intelligence network.

Cancellation of Indo-US military cooperation which links up India with the US global strategy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Law and Order

Ongoing programs for modernization of our police and paramilitary forces will be intensified; the long pending police reforms will be taken up to synchronize with the ongoing scheme for modernization of state police forces; number of police stations will be doubled over the next five years; mobile police stations, better communications, community friendly approach, highway police stations, better public interface and independence of police will be established through necessary legal and executive means; partnership between police and community will be institutionalized; investigation functions would be separated from law & order functions.

To make the National Security Council a professional and effective institution.

Create a national security apparatus which will work within the framework of the parliamentary democratic system.

Scrapping of POTA and other black laws and release of all activists of democratic movements, disbanding of all private armies and meeting out of exemplary punishment to perpetrators of feudal violence.

Naxalite Movement

To encourage the misguided youth who have joined various naxal organizations to give up the path of violence; development activities in affected areas will be intensified with people's participation. But TDP talks in terms of having a multi-pronged strategy to tackle this extremism.

 

 

 

 

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Caste and Communal Violence

Further strengthen and stabilize this trend, and work towards realizing our vision of a riot-free India.

 

 

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Federal Crimes

Build political consensus to enact a Central law and constitute a federal agency to deal with federal crimes.

 

 

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Jammu and Kashmir

The Congress and the CPI (M) do not have any focus on this question in their manifestos. The NDA provides an extensive plan for J&K linked with its ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan and the dialogue between Hurriyat and the Government of India. It promises to involve all sections of society in eliminating terrorism, accelerating economic development and strengthening popular governance that can provide a people friendly administration. Its manifesto expresses a balanced development of J&K and Ladakh, and suggests three ways to bring about this balanced development. It might also be noted that while the NDA manifesto does not mention anything about the recent bill about women’s rights introduced by the J&K government, the BJP vision document strongly condemns the recent move of the J&K government to introduce a law that discriminates in matters of inheritance rights against women marrying outside the State. This clearly indicates the difference between the BJP and its other coalition partners. These differences are natural in a large coalition, but they underline the basic desire of all political parties to capture power and make compromises with their ideological convictions. The PDP’s manifesto includes the release of prisoners and disbanding the Special Operations Group, apart from other related issues.

Policies

NDA

Congress

CPI (M)

CPI (ML)

PDP

Process for Settlement

To involve all sections of society in eliminating terrorism, accelerating economic development and strengthening popular governance that can provide people-friendly administration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To ensure early return of Kashmiri Pandits and other displaced people to their native places.

 

For balanced development of J&K & Ladakh, the party proposes (a) Autonomous Regional Councils for Jammu and Ladakh with adequate financial and administrative powers. (b) Protection of the original demographic identity of the three regions. (c) Equitable distribution of funds from the Centre.

 

The BJP strongly condemns the recent move by the Government of J&K to introduce a law that discriminates against women marrying outside the State in matters of inheritance rights.

 

 

 

 

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