Congress releases manifesto for election 2014

Congress party president Sonia Gandhi released the party manifesto for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in the presence of a galaxy of Congress leaders including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

Congress promised to push economic growth rate to 8 per cent in the next three years, create 10 crore jobs and take firm steps to contain inflation. In its manifesto for the upcoming elections released by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, the party also pledged to encourage Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and push Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Direct Taxes Code (DTC) within one year of coming into power. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

The party also expressed its commitment to create a national consensus on affirmative action for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for jobs in the private sector. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

The 15-point agenda for socio-economic and political transformation include initiatives like promoting flexible labour laws, systemic efforts to recover black money and increasing health expenditure to 3 per cent of GDP. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

Indian economy, which grew by over 9 per cent before the 2008 global financial crisis, has slipped to decade's low of 4.5 per cent in 2012-13. In the current fiscal, it is estimated to expand by 4.9 per cent. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

"Continuing our record of delivering India's highest growth rates, we will restore India to 8 per cent plus growth rate within 3 years," the manifesto said adding that government would continue to take firm action to control inflation even in difficult global economic scenario. (PTI)

Admitting that there will be a moderate level of inflation in a developing economy, it said "Reserve Bank must strike a balance between price stability and growth while formulating monetary policy". (PTI)

After the release of the party manifesto, Sonia Gandhi said the party will "definitely challenge" Narendra Modi in Varanasi in the Lok Sabha polls. "We will definitely challenge the Varanasi seat. Candidate has not been decided yet," she said. (PTI)