Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday unveiled Trinamul’s Lok Sabha poll manifesto that reflected her national ambitions, proposing a new deal for the poor and the marginalised in the country by promising 200 days’ work at twice the current wages under rural job scheme MGNREGA.
The suggestion drew attention in this season of basic income and livelihood support programmes. “We want 100 days’ work to be increased to 200 days and the daily wages doubled. This will ensure livelihood and improve quality of life,” the Bengal chief minister said while unveiling the manifesto.
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has announced that Rs 72,000 per year would be given as minimum income to poor families — which will benefit around 25 crore people — if his party is voted to power.
Mamata refrained from commenting on the Congress scheme but said her proposal should be considered before the new government draws up its “common minimum programme”.
Unlike Rahul’s proposal, which may cost the exchequer around Rs 3.96 lakh crore, back-of-the-envelope calculations suggest Mamata’s proposal — some farmers’ organisations in Rajasthan have been demanding 200 days work for some time — would be less than Rs 1 lakh crore. It would also create assets and help creation of critical infrastructure, said one of her aides.
Mamata had also brought out Trinamul’s manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls in 2014. But unlike five years ago, the 67-page booklet this time reflected her intention of playing a key role in Delhi. “I can play a small role,” she said, asked whether she was aiming at a “bigger role”.
The manifesto, however, told a different story. Divided into four sections, the booklet covers the entire gamut of issues, ranging from suggestions on how to end the unrest in Kashmir to proposals on how to give a big push to the industrial sector in the country. “I am willing to go to Kashmir and stay with the people there to see whether we can bring peace,” Mamata said.
The main thrust of the manifesto, however, was on the economy, capturing Mamata’s intention of highlighting the problems of the Modi years.
Rolling out an agenda for the new government, Mamata called for a probe into demonetisation. “Why was demonetisation carried out? To serve whose interests? We want a judicial probe monitored by a former Supreme Court judge… We want a review of GST… The Planning Commission, which the Modi government abolished, has to be re-established.”
Asked about the reason behind the preponderance of economic issues in the manifesto, a Mamata aide said: “They (BJP) served the issues on our platter (by making all the mistakes).”
The disaster looming large on the economy due to Modi’s policies was the theme of the United India rally at the Brigade Parade Grounds on January 19 that Mamata had chaperoned.
The attack on the jawans in Pulwama on February 14 and the chest-thumping over the “surgical strike” by the Indian Air Force on February 26, however, changed the narrative.
On Wednesday, Mamata said Modi’s days were numbered and chose to ignore Rahul’s recent criticism of her at a Malda rally by saying: “A child said what he had to. Why do I need to respond?”
Mamata said she was open to the idea of touring other parts of the country to campaign against Modi. She also volunteered to engage in a debate with the Prime Minister.
The Telegraph
