Election manifesto for Uttar Pradesh

BJP promises to bring secular politics. To scrap religion based quotas

Promises to set-up separate ministry for OBCs and a commission for economically weaker sections among upper castes?

By Pramod Kumar

At the time when there is mad race between the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to appease Muslims by offering new sops everyday, the BJP took a bold step by promising to scrap the 4.5 per cent religion based reservation quota granted by Congress-led UPA government to minorities within the backward castes quota. In its manifesto for Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections released on January 27, the party promised to set-up a separate ministry for development of backward castes and also a commission to grant reservation to the weaker sections among the upper castes, as has been done by the NDA government in Bihar.

The BJP, which has already released a detailed vision document for all round development of the State on January 16, released the manifesto in presence of senior leaders including national vice-presidents Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Kalraj Mishra, senior leader Umashri Bharati, national general secretary Narendra Singh Tomar, chairman of Election Manifesto Committee Om Prakash Singh and State president Surya Pratap Shahi.

It is to be noted that after the declaration of 4.5 per cent reservation quota for Muslims, the Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid announced to increase it to 9 per cent and the SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said to hike it up to 18 per cent, if the SP is voted to power in UP. “The decision to grant 4.5 per cent reservations to Muslims on the basis of religion is motivated by vote-bank politics. If the BJP comes to power, it will be scrapped and 27 per cent quota of the OBCs will be restored,” said Shri Om Prakash Singh in Lucknow. For the welfare of minorities, the BJP said on the principle of justice and security to all, but appeasement of none, it would make concrete and honest efforts for economic, social and educational progress of the Muslims.

The BJP proposed to constitute a ‘Savarna Aayog’ to identify the economically weaker sections among the forward castes of Hindus. Shri Shahi said the commission would suggest steps for granting reservation to economically backward upper caste people. He said the commission would grant its report within six months and its recommendations would be implemented immediately.

When the Congress is again trying to play ‘Babri’ card, the BJP promised a grand Sri Ram temple in Ayodhya. “The party is of the opinion that Hinduism is the life substance of the country, but due to vote-bank politics it is being attacked by parties, including the Congress, SP, BSP and the Left. The construction of a grand Sri Ram temple is associated with the faith of crores of people. Sri Ram is the symbol of prestige, pride and dignity of the country. Unfortunately, due to pseudo secularism and vote-bank politics it is being opposed. BJP is committed to remove all hurdles in the path of construction of Sri Ram temple,” said Shri Surya Pratap Shahi while talking to Organiser.

For farmers, the party promised to provide loans at an interest rate of one per cent, besides constitution of a Krishak Kalyan Ayog to redress their problems and a corpus of Rs 1,000 crore Kisan Kalyan Kosh. “There will be separate budget for the agriculture sector and a new policy will be chalked out,” the manifesto said. The party also announced to give Rs 24,000 annual pension to small and marginal farmers, farm labourers, weavers and workers above 65 years of age. The party also announced to fix State support price of sugarcane at Rs 300 per quintal in the next crushing season.

The party also promised one cow free to every family living below the poverty line and complete ban on slaughter of cows in the State. “Apart from loan to farmers at one per cent interest, the farmers’ loans upto rupees one lakh will be written off. Electricity will be provided for agricultural purposes for 24 hours. Policies would be formulated to ease the burden of the farmer and make his profession easier,” Shri Om Prakash Singh said.

For youths, the BJP promised to create one crore jobs in five years, besides loan upto Rs one lakh on easy interest rate and unemployment allowance of Rs 2,000 per month. The party also announced to give tablet computers for Rs 1,000 to secondary and intermediate students and laptop for Rs 5,000 to intermediate students. The manifesto also promises one crore jobs in five years and 10 per cent allocation for education in the budget. Promising to constitute an Education Commission, the BJP said textbooks, school uniforms and bags would be given to economically deprived students up to intermediate class. The party also promised to regularise around 1.5 lakh Shiksha Mitras, filling vacant post of teachers providing employment to two lakh youth.

On the issue of corruption, the BJP said the institution of Lokayukta would be made more effective and the Lokayukta would be authorised to conduct an inquiry even against the Chief Minister and its recommendations would be binding for the government.?