The manifesto — drafted after a 22-member team held 176 consultations across 56 cities in 24 states and union territories — was approved by the CWC and copies of the document will be printed soon.
The Congress's Central Working Committee on Monday approved the party's manifesto, and it is likely to be out by March 31-April 1.
Some of the manifesto's key features are an amendment to the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, a separate investigative agency for crimes against women as well as a plan to release undertrials who have spent a certain amount of time in prison already.
The manifesto — drafted after a 22-member team held 176 consultations across 56 cities in 24 states and union territories — was approved by the CWC and copies of the document will be printed soon. Party functionaries in the know said that the draft was ready on March 18, but was awaiting final approval by the CWC. A plan to translate the document in regional Indian languages has, however, been shelved.
Among the offerings in the document is an amendment to the contentious AFSPA. The amendment will strive to curtail some of the powers accorded to the armed forces and remove immunity in cases of enforced disappearances, sexual violence and torture. Apart from Jammu and Kashmir, the Act is applicable to the whole of Nagaland and Assam and parts of northeast states. Additionally, the party also plans to bring in a separate investigative agency to investigate crimes against women and children. Sources in the party said, "The agency will be responsible for investigating heinous cases against women and children, and a new law will be brought in to realise the same."
Meanwhile, undertrials who have served a minimum of three months jail for charges punishable with imprisonment of three years or less, will all be freed.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Priyanka Gandhi at the CWC meet")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}