Congress President Sonia Gandhi has said the party will definitely challenge Narendra Modi in Varanasi in the Lok Sabha polls. She was talking to reporters after the release of the party manifesto in New Delhi today. Sonia Gandhi brushed aside criticism over giving Lok Sabha ticket to former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan in the Lok Sabha elections. She said the decision to field him was taken by the Central Elections Committee, as he was not debarred from contesting polls.

Congress manifesto in its 15-point agenda for socio-economic and political transformation promises to include initiatives like promoting flexible labour laws, systemic efforts to recover black money and increasing health expenditure to 3 per cent of GDP. It said economic growth rate would be pushed to 8 per cent in the next three years, create 10 crore jobs and take firm steps to contain inflation.

In the manifesto entitled “Your Voice Our Pledge” the party also pledged to encourage Foreign Direct Investment. It also promises Right to Healthcare for all people and Right to housing. The manifesto also promises Right to pension for old and under privileged. The party also expresses its commitment to create a national consensus on affirmative action for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for jobs in the private sector.

Mrs. Gandhi said, if voted to power again, the government would enhance social security programmes. The Congress President said, the party would strive for a secular nation, which belongs to every citizen.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said, special emphasis on education, health and agricultural growth has been spelt out in great detail in the manifesto. Dr Singh claimed only Congress model could prove lasting growth.

Party Vice President Rahul Gandhi took on Modi by saying that he had nothing against Modi as an individual but was opposed to his ideology, which is against the idea of India. He said that the BJP's campaign would burst like India Shining in 2004.