From genetically modified (GM) food to bullet trains to college ragging, some new topics have found their way to party political manifestos in this election. The selection isn’t uniform, nor is the interest. But it does show that politicians do share with journalists an eye for current news items.
Take genetically modified (GM) food, a topic rather esoteric in earlier polls for most party manifestos. Not any more; quite a few have taken a stand, even if it may not stand up to detailed scrutiny. The Bharatiya Janata Party, for instance, says it is against. Or, on specifics, that “no genetically modified seed will be allowed for cultivation without full scientific data on long-term effects on soil, production and biological impact on consumers”. It is another matter that this is also current official policy, as formulated under the UPA government. “All food and food products produced with genetically modified seeds will be branded as ‘GM Food’,” adds the BJP. It doesn’t go into detail on how this will change things, but then, this is a new topic.
Less than radical, too, is the Communist Party of India. It promises to “take a precautionary approach”’ on GM crops and “will demand a moratorium until all pending issues are resolved satisfactorily”. Since the definition of both 'resolved’and 'satisfactory’ is what the controversy is all about, this isn’t exactly a clear stand.
Clearer on the topic are some regional parties. For instance, the Pattali Makkal Katchi in Tamil Nadu has vowed to stop GM crops and GM crop field trials immediately. It says field trials of GM crops will not be permitted without long-term safety tests. It also says that agricultural universities should not be allowed to carry out research on GM crops with the private sector.
“Research priorities will be shifted towards upholding the traditional methods,” says its manifesto. It doesn’t, however, mention whether this will be a condition for joining a ruling coalition, at Centre or state.
Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK, an uncertain part of the new Third Front, blames GM crops for farmers’ distress and suicides during the UPA Government. It vows against promotion of GM seeds. Its new partner, the MDMK led by Vaiko, says “Foreign companies like Mahyco and Monsanto are destroying India’s traditional seeds and sowing genetically modified seeds. Government agricultural universities are also helping these companies.” It refers to reports about health hazards from GM crops and says that it would work towards forcing a ban on GM crops.
Then there is that new deity, climate change, and the associated topic of clean and renewable energy. The BJP says it is very clear on developing “ non-fossil fuel-based clean energy sources, especially for electricity production”. Saying: “Our goal will be to add at least 120,000 Mw of power over the next five years, with 20 per cent of it coming from renewable sources. Similar emphasis will be placed on developing alternatives to petrol and diesel, to lessen the burden of imported oil and gas, as well as to meet the challenges of climate change.”
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It also promises to promote solar, wind and bio energy. How all this is to be achieved isn’t made clear. The Congress party is even blander, saying there already is its 'National Action Plan’ on climate change and the thing to do is to implement it, which it vows to do. Parties are, clearly, in need of ideas on this; quite a few manifestos refer to low-carbon energy sources and renewable energy. without going into nuts and bolts.
Then there is money parked in tax havens abroad. The BJP promises “firm action will be initiated to minimise the presence of black money in the national economy. We will take determined steps to bring back the money (estimated at Rs 25,00,000 crore and Rs 75,00,000 crore) illegally stashed in Swiss bank accounts and tax havens, and use it for infrastructure development, housing, health and social welfare schemes.” It’s their topic; the Congress does not talk of it at all, clearly believing voters aren’t holding their breath on this one.
There are other wand-wavers, too; the AIADMK (their chief, incidentally, has been battling the income tax department’s assessments of what she has allegedly not reported for quite a while) promises “immediate action” to bring back Indian money “lying unproductively in international tax havens”.
The AIADMK has views — and promises — on other non-regional issues, too. Defence matters, for instance. The party is confined to Tamil speakers, but it also promises favourable consideration of soldiers’ demands on pay and retirement benefits, saying it will improve on the present structure in order to make the armed services a favoured employment destination.
The BJP, of course, has an entire section on the subject saying all pending issues of pay and privileges “will be revisited and resolved to the satisfaction of the defence forces.” Most manifestos have sections on this sector and, for that matter, terrorism and the Mumbai attacks.