Bhatkal: Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) Bhatkal unit on Saturday launched the students’ manifesto here in Bhatkal. The manifesto prepared by the organisation’s state unit has several demands of the youth and students community that has been put forth ahead of the Lok Sabha Election.

The manifesto was drafted by the organisation’s state unit and was later sent to sub-units to be released in the respective localities while also conveying it to the local leaders and candidates of the Lok Sabha Election.

“Students and youths are engulfed in various problems across the country. Government and Educational institutions have failed to contest the problems faced by them. It is in this milieu, Students Islamic organization of India, Karnataka zone has decided to come up with the Student Manifesto, in order to make Student issues such as Education and Employment a topic of discussion and Public Discourse” a press release by the organisation stated.

The manifesto focuses on four major areas like Education, Employment, Environment, Human Rights and Social Justice.

Education: In the education section the manifesto cites recommendations of several Education Commissions and seeks expenditure increase on Education to 8% of GDP to train the vast vast human resource to be competitive with rest of developing world and to rectify earlier injustices in educational expenditures.

It further speaks of ‘School for every village’ concept that needs to be introduced in rural areas of the state.

“RTE act should be expanded from the age of birth to age 18 to ensure all children get early childhood education and to encourage sensual, cognitive and sensory development in early age including health and nutrition care, qualitative - equal education in mother tongue or provincial language should be given in neighborhood schools for preliminary opportunities and sustainable development of children” it adds while also stressing upon conducting students union election in every university and college with adherence to Supreme Court’s guidelines.

Employment: The manifesto demands 100% employment guarantee along with certificate and stipend during the period of training for those undergoing skill development training under central governments Skill India scheme.

It also calls for all the vacancies in government posts and public services to be filled within six months after completion of election.

Environment: “State should attempt to replenish waters of dried up lakes. Alternative ways of storing water such as subsurface dams, coastal reservoirs have to be implemented in the state. Environmental flow assessment of rivers has to be implemented to maintain its ecological integrity, to sustain Freshwater and to maintain itself in a desired environmental condition” the manifesto further demands while also adding “State should envision by 2050 to meet all of its power demand from clean, renewable and zero emission energy sources to make sweeping changes to the environment and economy so that economic growth and environment go together”.

Social Justice: Citing Justice Ranganath Misra Commission, the manifesto bats for 10% Reservation in public services and in educational institutions, for students as well as teachers belonging to religious minorities.

Human Rights: Coming down hard on the ‘outdated and draconian laws’ laws such as Section 124A (sedition) of Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the National Security Act and amendments to the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and Foreign Contributions Regulation Act as well as the existing laws on blasphemy and criminal contempt of legislature and judiciary, the manifesto suggests that these laws should be done away to protect Democrati liberties of citizens.

“Section 197 of the CRPC must be scrapped to allow for the filing of cases against police officers who commit torture, concoct false cases against innocents and carry out other excesses in abuse of law” it reads in the conclusion.

The manifesto in Bhatkal was released in the presence of Zonal Secretary, Fahimuddin Bidar, District Organiser, Abud Asif, Unit President, Sanaullah Asadi, Unit Secretary, Shuaib SM and Ameer-e-Muqami, Mujahid Mustafa.

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Sangrur (Punjab), May 11: Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has an "understanding" with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to split AAP into a separate Punjab unit after the elections, like Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde did in Maharashtra, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal claimed on Saturday.

Badal made the claim while addressing rallies at Sunam and Dhuri for the Shiromani Akali Dal's (SAD) Sangrur candidate Iqbal Singh Jhundan.

"Bhagwant Mann has compromised with the BJP as he felt he would also be arrested like his boss (Arvind) Kejriwal because he had also perpetrated the same liquor scam as done by AAP in Delhi. This understanding has saved him from arrest," Badal alleged.

Shiv Sena leader Shinde became Maharashtra chief minister after parting ways with Uddhav Thackeray and forming an alliance with the BJP.

The Election Commission of India has since recognised the Shinde faction as officially representing the Shiv Sena while the Thackeray-led faction has been using the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) name.

The Shiromani Akali Dal chief also asserted that no Delhi-based party can be trusted with votes.

"Bhagwant Mann has opened channels with both the BJP and the Congress to hedge his bet. While he has an informal understanding with the BJP, he has also aligned with the Congress in Punjab and is putting up a friendly fight in most constituencies," Badal said.

He cited how AAP is contesting against the Congress in Punjab but Mann has been campaigning for the grand old party in Chandigarh and Haryana.

AAP and the Congress are constituents of the opposition INDIA bloc. While the two parties are contesting the Lok Sabha elections independently in Punjab, they have an alliance in Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana and Chandigarh.

Urging Punjabis to "seal the borders" for all Delhi-based parties, Badal said, "The AAP government in Punjab and the Union government colluded to prevent our farmers from marching to Delhi. This led to firing of tear gas shells at our farmers and even firing of rubber bullets. Now it is your turn to seal the borders of Punjab with your votes."

He also made a case for trusting the Shiromani Akali Dal -- a home-grown party of Punjab.

Badal said the Shiromani Akali Dal has always stood for safeguarding the interests of Punjab and decided to contest the Lok Sabha elections alone when it became clear that the BJP was not ready to resolve any of the pending grievances of the farmers or the Sikh community.

He also announced that once the Shiromani Akali Dal is elected to power, it will release tubewell connections to all agriculturists who do not have a single connection in their name.

He also promised that all social welfare schemes that have been curtailed by successive Congress and AAP governments would be revived in totality.