A public manifesto for 2014 Lok Sabha polls was released by Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Omari, Ameer, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind at a press conference held at JIH headquarters in the national capital on 1 March. The 15-point public manifesto has been released for political parties seeking public support in the upcoming general elections.
Ejaz Ahmed Aslam, secretary JIH, informed the press persons that after a brainstorming session with representatives of all zones of the organisation, the draft manifesto was finalised. He also said that efforts would be made to reach out to secular political parties to know their viewpoints and eagerness on these important issues pertaining to Muslims in particular and all other weaker sections in general. JIH is of the view that on the basis of response from political parties and impression gathered from the ground in different states and constituencies the decision to support political parties would be made.
Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Omari, while replying to a question, said that after getting inputs from all places the decision to support any political party would be made and the basic idea would be to support the Congress if it is strong and the fight is in between Congress and the BJP. And where the Congress is weak or not in the picture then under such circumstances any other options would be looked into depending on the demand of the situation at that point of time.
The crux of the manifesto is as under:
1. “Right to Livelihood” should be recognised as a Fundamental Right through constitutional amendment to ensure food, housing, clothing, education and healthcare to all citizens of the country.
2. Justice Ranganath Misra Commission Report should be accepted and implemented.
3. The concept of DIVERSITY INDEX as envisaged in Sachar Committee Report should be implemented in both government and private sectors. All government aids and grants should be based on the DIVERSITY INDEX.
4. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) should be amended to guarantee employment for whole 365 days of a year and to cover the urban poor also under the scheme.
5. The Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill should be passed and implemented honestly.
6. All central security laws like AFSPA and UAPA should be brought in alignment with the obligations of International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights. Torture, inhuman and degrading treatment of detainees and prisoners should be banned.
7. An independent judicial commission should be constructed to probe all accusations of terrorist and disruptive activities; the accused should be tried in fast track courts; mechanism should be developed for reparation for victims; and errant officers be prosecuted.
8. Private corporations and NGOs should be brought under the purview of Jan Lokpal Bill. Stringent action should be taken against corruptions. E-governance should be implemented to ensure complete transparency.
9. The recommendations of National Police Commission should be implemented to make Police forces more professional and humane; and to make them more representative and unbiased, 25% quota should be reserved for minorities.
10. A comprehensive policy should be evolved for protecting the dignity and honour of women and for controlling the sex crimes. Culprits should be sternly punished. Education policy should be amended to sensitise the society on moral and sexual discipline, and spread of pornography and nudity through media, films and erotic literature should be checked. Censor laws and rules should also be amended.
11. In the Union Budget, 8% of GDP should be allocated for education and 5% for health.
12. To rejuvenate agrarian sector, recommendations of National Commission for Farmers should be implemented; the corporate farming and future selling should be discouraged. A fund should be set up on the lines of Calamity Fund to help the farmers in case of loss of crops.
13. Taxes should be increased for super rich classes; the ratio of direct tax should be higher than indirect tax. Budget should be made more responsive to the needs of the disadvantaged sections of society viz. Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, women, rural population, urban poor and the marginalised. There should be a “Muslim Component Plan” in the Five-Year Plan.
14. Interest-free finance should be introduced in the banking sector as recommended by the high level Committee on Financial Sector Reforms of the Planning Commission headed by Dr. Raghuram Rajan. There is a need for amendments in the existing laws so that the marginalised sections and minorities get benefit from the inclusive development.
15. The Constitution should be amended to make Parliamentary sanction mandatory for any major international treaty or basic change in Foreign Policy of the country. Good relations with neighbouring countries and South-South cooperation should be increased.