Lok Sabha polls top updates: Congress’ manifesto is a ‘bundle of lies’, says BJP

The Congress on Friday released its manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections. The party has promised the removal of the current Manipur government, along with the appointment of a reconciliation commission, to improve the situation in the state that has been reeling under an ethnic conflict since May last year. The Bharatiya Janata Party called the Congress’ manifesto a “bundle of lies” and claimed the party had not fulfilled any of the promises made earlier.

The Election Commission, meanwhile, identified 266 constituencies where voter turnout had been lower than the national average in 2019 and drafted action plans to boost participation.

Here’s a look at today’s top developments:

• In its manifesto, the Congress has promised to ensure appropriate compensation for the people of Manipur who suffered due to the conflict. The party also said that it would revisit and amend the National Education Police 2020 in consultation with the state governments. It has promised to pass a Right to Apprenticeship Act to provide a one-year apprenticeship to every diploma holder or graduate below the age of 25.

• Reacting to the manifesto, the Bharatiya Janata Party said it was brought out to “create confusion among the voters”. BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi also alleged that the Congress manifesto had used photographs of Thailand...

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