Congress to release welfare focused manifesto today

The Congress will release a welfare focused manifesto on Friday for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, with emphasis on "Paanch NYAY" and "Pachees Guarantee."

Top leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and former chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, will be present at the event.

The five pillars of justice in the manifesto will address women, youth, farmers, labourers and the downtrodden -- Nari Nyay, Yuva Nyay, Kisaan Nyay, Shramik Nyay, and Hissedari Nyay. The party plans to introduce 25 guarantees for the welfare of these sections of the society.

For the first time, the Congress will promise the ‘right to employment’ for youth as part of its poll manifesto. The party will also pitch a legal guarantee to MSP, a key demand of protesting farmers. Notably, under its "Hissedari Nyay", the party is likely to reiterate its promise of a social, economic and caste census.

The Congress, however, may walk back on its promise to revert to the Old Pension Scheme, according to The Indian Express.

The manifesto will likely promise scrapping of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) that empowers the Directorate of Enforcement (ED). The Congress also wishes to repeal the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).