The declaration of intent

A statement can also conceal the true intention of the maker. False prophets make false statements. The statements that haunt Mr Narendra Modi are 'I shall put ₹15 lakh in the bank account of every Indian', 'I shall create 2 crore jobs a year' and‘I shall double the farmers' incomes', among others. They were laughed away by his lieutenants as election jumla

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A MANIFESTO IS a written declaration of intentions and views on issues that matter to the people. Some examples that come to mind are the Declaration of Independence, 1776 in the United States and Jawaharlal Nehru's 'Tryst with Destiny' speech on August 14-15, 1947. Dr Manmohan Singh quoted Victor Hugo "No power on Earth can stop an idea whose time has come" on July 24, 1991 in amemorable speech that turned the direction of India's economy.

Those statements/speeches declared, loudly and clearly, the intent of the new rulers.

A statement can also conceal the true intention of the maker. False prophets make false statements. The statements that haunt Mr Narendra Modi are 'I shall put ₹15 lakh in the bank account of every Indian','I shall create 2 crore jobs a year' and 'I shall double the farmers' incomes', among others. They were laughed away by his lieutenants as election jumla.

The two major political parties in India with a national footprint are the Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. The BJP constituted its Manifesto Committee on March 30, Congress released its Manifesto on April 5. I wish I could compare the two manifestos in this column, but only the Congress'is available.

Ishall, therefore, list the salient features on which readers and voters should compare the two manifestos.

Constitution of India