Aam Aadmi Party (AAP),or Common Man Party, chief Arvind Kejriwal releases the party’s manifesto ahead of the general elections in New Delhi, India, Thursday, April, 3, 2014. India will hold national elections from April 7 to May 12, kicking off a vote that many observers see as the most important election in more than 30 years in the world’s largest democracy. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal)
New Delhi, April 3 (IANS): The AAP unveiled for the first time Thursday its national vision, saying it favoured a healthy market economy and zero tolerance towards terrorism sponsored by Pakistan. Releasing the AAP manifesto for the Lok Sabha election, former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said India today faced three major threats in the form of corruption, communalism and crony capitalism.
Presenting a business friendly image, Kejriwal said the Aam Aadmi Party, founded in November 2012, would foster healthy competition in the market economy and curb monopolistic and anti-competition practices.
“Job creation shall be the primary objective of the economic policies of the AAP, and to this end we will promote honest businesses and entrepreneurs,” Kejriwal said, reading out from the 25-page manifesto.
On foreign direct investment (FDI), the AAP leader said: “We are not against FDI in principle but we opposed it sector wise.” But he insisted that his party was against FDI in retail trade. It is the first time the AAP has come out with its comprehensive thinking on a host of issues after being dubbed as a party with a singular mindset: how to battle corruption.
Kejriwal said the AAP was not limited by ideological orthodoxies in both domestic and international economic issues. “It is neither Left nor Right and will support every good idea, old or new, if it is in the interest of India,” the manifesto said.
On foreign policy, the AAP said -- without taking Pakistan’s name -- that it would show no toleration for cross-border terrorism.
It called for coordinated bilateral and multilateral efforts to prosecute terrorists and a sustained dialogue at various levels to dismantle the structures that encourage terrorism. The AAP advocated enhancing India’s capacity to deter border incursions
by China.
The AAP, Kejriwal said, would come down heavily on “those practising politics in the name of religion” and called for time bound investigation to identify the masterminds behind riots.
The manifesto said all major natural resources including water and forests would vest with the state and their commercial exploitation would be done based on a royalty and revenue sharing agreement.
The party reiterated its support for a Jan Lokpal bill, saying undeclared assets of public servants would be liable for confiscation. “Any public official guilty of corruption would be removed from their position and sentenced to prison. Their property will be confiscated.”
Kejriwal resigned Feb 14 after being Delhi’s chief minister for 49 days when he failed to muster majority support in the assembly to pass the Jan Lokpal bill. The AAP advocated state funding of elections and strong disclosure norms for political parties besides a supplemental system of proportional representations in elections.
“Political parties will have to put up all details of their donors on their web site even if the donation amounts to one rupee. All expenses of political leaders during elections will have to be declared as well.” It also called for simplification of rules and regulations and ensuring effective administration of law.
The AAP pledged to bring back black money stashed abroad, and curtail the widespread use of black money in real estate and property dealings. Kejriwal said decentralization was a must to develop the rural economy. Accordingly, the manifesto called for increased powers to Gram Sabhas, as well as a concerted push in traditional industries.
Will bring back black money
The AAP Thursday promised to bring back black money stashed abroad and clarifying it was not against FDI in principle. Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal told the media here: “There should be political will to bring back black money stashed abroad.”
He said the flow of black money, especially during elections, can be curbed by scrapping an income tax provision that people donating less than Rs.20,000 to a political party need not furnish their details.
“The parties will have to put all the details of their donors on the web site even if the donation amounts to Re.1; all expenses incurred by leaders during elections will have to be declared as well.”
Kejriwal said the AAP will not tolerate “cross border terrorism” but at the same time wished to maintain “cordial and friendly relations” with all countries. The manifesto promised to reform the country’s education system and bring in better health facilities and political accountability.
AAP candidate walks 50 km to file nomination
Dhule, April 3 (IANS): A weary but cheerful AAP candidate from Dhule, Ansari N. Ahmed, Thursday finally ended his 50-km long walkathon in Maharashtra to file his Lok Sabha nomination here.
Ahmed had set out from Malegaon in Nashik district Tuesday afternoon with around 150 supporters, a couple of vehicles and mini water tankers for Dhule, the adjoining district where the Election Commission has opened its office for Dhule constituency.
“We completed our last leg of eight kilometers this morning and reached Dhule around 2 p.m. to file the nomination papers. Our progress was delayed considerably as the crowds swelled to nearly 5,000,” said Ahmed’s close aide and media advisor Aleem Faizee.
The unique walkathon saw AAP supporters carrying brooms, the party’s election symbol. Proceeding with them were a couple of vehicles loaded with food, large utensils and a portable gas stove and cylinder. Each person had come with his own blanket and bedsheet, plastic plates and disposable cups.
Ahmed and his band were rewarded with enthusiastic public response through nearly two dozen villages and hamlets which he passed. Hundreds of villagers welcomed him with garlands and offered chilled water, sherbet or tea.
“They told me that this is the first time they saw a candidate in flesh and blood. In all previous elections, they only saw the photographs or posters of the candidates,” said Ahmed, a 57-year-old academic.
The 50-km march afforded Ahmed interaction with over 50,000 voters.
“One of our main campaign agenda will be strengthening the co-operative nature of the powerloom textile industry here as opposed to the corporatization sought by some candidates,” Ahmed told the villagers.
Dhule is among the few parliamentary constituencies in India which span two adjoining districts: Nashik and Dhule in northwest Maharashtra. The return journey will start this evening but this time, in hired small vehicles, two-wheelers, trucks or state transport buses, Faizee said.
Dhule constituency - currently held by BJP’s P.N. Sonawane - is set to witness a three-cornered battle also involving Congress’ candidate Amrish Patel and BJP’s Subhash Bhamre. The trio is set to woo the 1.60 million electorate comprising 700,000 Marathas, 450,000 Muslims and others from different backward classes.
Ahmed had set out from Malegaon in Nashik district Tuesday afternoon with around 150 supporters, a couple of vehicles and mini water tankers for Dhule, the adjoining district where the Election Commission has opened its office for Dhule constituency.
“We completed our last leg of eight kilometers this morning and reached Dhule around 2 p.m. to file the nomination papers. Our progress was delayed considerably as the crowds swelled to nearly 5,000,” said Ahmed’s close aide and media advisor Aleem Faizee.
The unique walkathon saw AAP supporters carrying brooms, the party’s election symbol. Proceeding with them were a couple of vehicles loaded with food, large utensils and a portable gas stove and cylinder. Each person had come with his own blanket and bedsheet, plastic plates and disposable cups.
Ahmed and his band were rewarded with enthusiastic public response through nearly two dozen villages and hamlets which he passed. Hundreds of villagers welcomed him with garlands and offered chilled water, sherbet or tea.
“They told me that this is the first time they saw a candidate in flesh and blood. In all previous elections, they only saw the photographs or posters of the candidates,” said Ahmed, a 57-year-old academic.
The 50-km march afforded Ahmed interaction with over 50,000 voters.
“One of our main campaign agenda will be strengthening the co-operative nature of the powerloom textile industry here as opposed to the corporatization sought by some candidates,” Ahmed told the villagers.
Dhule is among the few parliamentary constituencies in India which span two adjoining districts: Nashik and Dhule in northwest Maharashtra. The return journey will start this evening but this time, in hired small vehicles, two-wheelers, trucks or state transport buses, Faizee said.
Dhule constituency - currently held by BJP’s P.N. Sonawane - is set to witness a three-cornered battle also involving Congress’ candidate Amrish Patel and BJP’s Subhash Bhamre. The trio is set to woo the 1.60 million electorate comprising 700,000 Marathas, 450,000 Muslims and others from different backward classes.
