Kolkata: Named ‘Sonar Bangla Sankalp Patra 2021’, the BJP manifesto unveiled by Union Home Minister Amit Shah promises a whopping 33 per cent reservation for women in state government jobs.
The election pledge is spot on target with the saffron party stating that it will unhesitatingly implement CAA – considered a key game-changer promise in this year’s polls. Similarly, the party said hitherto deprived Hindu groups like Maishyas would also get OBC status.
At least one member of every family to get a job is being seen as an important promise as West Bengal citizens traditionally have shown a fascination for white-collar jobs and that too in government sectors.
The CAA implementation for Matuas particularly and OBC status to Maishyas and other smaller communities are expected to swing the mood towards BJP in a big way in about 70-80 assembly segments.
It is these factors, observers say, that BJP candidate at Nandigram against Mamata Banerjee, Suvendu Adhikari has said would help the Lotus party take considerable headway in elections in the first two phases of polling on March 27 and April 1. “We have done our homework very well….,” he said.
At least one member of every family to get a job, said the country’s ruling party giving a determined fight to wrest power in eastern India. Job is considered a major election issue in a state where people traditionally have a fascination for white collar jobs and have often in the past shown dislike to business and entrepreneurship.
The Sankalp Patra also promises to make Bengali an official language at the UN, constitute an anti-corruption helpline, build a domestic airport at Purulia and announce financial assistance to farmers and the fishing community.
“We have always given the Sankalp Patra an important place in the scheme of things,” Shah said at a function which was attended by senior leaders including state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh and senior leaders Mukul Roy, Kailash Vijayvargiya and Dinesh Trivedi.
Shah also said, “Mamata Banerjee has succeeded to deliver on merely three fronts over the last 10 years – politicisation of administration, criminalisation of politics and institutionalisation of corruption”.
“He repeatedly mentioned about minority appeasement and ‘cut money’ – two menaces where the saffron party has sought to corner Mamata Banerjee in the run-up to this year’s polls.
“We have decided to call our manifesto a ‘Sankalp Patra’. It is not just a manifesto but a resolute resolution for West Bengal by the country’s largest party,” said Shah.
The manifesto also pledges ‘free education for all women from KG to PG’.
Shah said along with Rs 6000 that the Central Government provides to farmers, the BJP regime in Bengal if voted to power, will add an extra Rs 4000, to make a total of Rs 10,000 per annum for the farmers.
Other election promises include – Rs 11,000 crore Sonar Bangla fund, Rs 22,000 crore funds for development of Kolkata.
Shah said the first state cabinet of the BJP government would take a favourable decision vis-a-vis implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) – which Mamata Banerjee has opposed steadfastly.
Election promises also include:
Tourism to get a boost….nine circuits to be developed:
Rs 150 crore for development of Santiniketan region
Three AIIMS in Bengal (North Bengal, Junglemahal and Sunderbans)
International recognition to Ganga Sagar Mela
Rs 11,000 crore Sonar Bangla fund
West Bengal Whistle blower new law to be enacted
SIT for victims of political violence, wrongdoers to be punished
Bagdogra airport in Siliguri to convert into International airport with the help of Central Government
Amphan funds misuse corruption to be probed Anti Corruption helpline….for Bengal…
State unit chief Dilip Ghosh said the BJP manifesto was drafted over the last month after party leaders travelled across Bengal and sought people’s suggestions either in person or through the internet and social media.
Other promises are:
Clean drinking water for all
Free public transport for women
Mahishya, Tili and other Hindus OBCs to be included under OBC reserved status
Rs 10,000 financial aid to refugees for next 5 years
Matua, Dalpatis to get Rs 3,000 monthly pension
Pension for widows to be raised to Rs 3,000
CCTV surveillance, time-bound border fencing to end infiltration
State government to make all efforts to get Bengali official language status
Benefits of Ayushmaan Bharat to be extended to all in first Cabinet meeting
Rs 10,000 crore Kadambini Ganguly Health Fund to be made
33% reservation for women in government jobs
7th Pay Commission to be implemented if BJP voted to power
Bengali to be made mandatory in school education till Class X
Engineering and medical course to be made available in Bengali
Dalit, tribal girls to be given monetary support for education
Rs 350/day wage for tea garden workers
Rs 18,000 for farmers under PM Kisan without any “cut money”
Rs 6,000 for fishermen annually
Rs 5,000 crore intervention fund to ensure right price for farm produce
Farmer Security Fund of Rs 20,000 crore
Kisan Credit Card to be upgraded to Rupay card
Insurance for fisherman up to Rs 3 lakh
MSMEs to be given loans up to Rs 10 lakh
Tagore Prize and Satyajit Ray International AwardNo roadblocks towards celebrating Saraswati Puja, Durga Puja
Probe into alleged corruption in Amphan and other calamities
Anti-corruption helpline inside CMO (chief minister’s office)
IT to investigate corruption, communal/political violence
Rs 25 lakh for each family that has lost a member to political violence
Task Forces to counter arms racketeering, narcotics trade, land grabbing, fake currency circulation, cattle smuggling
No more charge of Rs Rs 100-500 for SC/ST caste certificates in Bengal; process to be digitised
Proposal for Netaji Expressway between Kolkata and Siliguri
Up to Rs 50 lakh loan for hospital sector (Interest-free for 3 years)
