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Tag: BJP manifesto

  • bjp manifesto: New and old promises in BJP manifesto

    New Delhi: The BJP has made a host of new promises in its Lok Sabha poll manifesto including for farmers’ empowerment like the launch of a Krishi Infrastructure Mission for coordinated implementation of agri-infrastructure projects, while steering clear of some others mentioned in the past. In its 2024 manifesto, the BJP has repeated its promise on implementing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and reiterated its stand to draw a Uniform Civil Code but has skipped the contentious issue of National Register of Citizens (NRC).

    “There has been a huge change in the cultural and linguistic identity of some areas due to illegal immigration, resulting in an adverse impact on local people’s livelihood and employment.

    “We will expeditiously complete the National Register of Citizens process in these areas on priority. In future we will implement the NRC in a phased manner in other parts of the country,” the party had stated in its 2019 manifesto. In its last Lok Sabha poll manifesto, the BJP had promised to double the farmers’ income by 2022, but the opposition has accused it of failing to deliver on its assurance and has also been cornering it on the demand for legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP).

    The party’s 2024 poll manifesto stated that the BJP government empowered farmers through a variety of measures including soil health card, micro-irrigation, crop insurance, seed supply, and direct financial assistance under PM Kisan Samman Yojana.

    “We have ensured (an) unprecedented increase in the MSP (minimum support price) for major crops and we will continue to increase it from time to time. We are providing annual financial assistance of Rs 6,000 under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. We are committed to sustained financial support for our farmers,” it said. The BJP promised to further strengthen the crop insurance scheme PM Fasal Bima Yojana through more technological interventions to ensure speedy and more accurate assessment, faster payouts and quicker grievance resolution. “We have incentivised crop diversification with appropriate price support strategy. Building on this, we are committed to further expand crop diversification to make agriculture sustainable and remunerative,” it said.

    “We will support Annadatas to make Bharat Atma Nirbhar (self-reliant) in the production of pulses (like tur, urad, masoor, moong and chana) and edible oil production like mustard, soybean, til and groundnut,” it added.

    The BJP promised to expand the irrigation facility and launch a Krishi Infrastructure Mission for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of agri-infrastructure projects like storage facilities, irrigation, grading and sorting units, cold storage facilities, and food processing among others if voted to power.

    “We will launch a National Mission on Natural Farming to promote nature-friendly, climate-resilient, remunerative agriculture for food and nutrition secure Bharat,” it said and added, “We are committed to supporting our Kisan families and empower them to lead better lives.”

    The BJP’s 2024 Lok Sabha poll manifesto has paid greater attention to the issues of the fishermen as compared to that of its 2019 manifesto, with the party making a host of promises to advance their prosperity and welfare.

    “We are committed to advancing the prosperity and welfare of our fishermen by enhancing fisheries through initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, modernising infrastructure, and providing financial support and skill development. Our efforts are aimed at empowering fishermen families to thrive and contribute to the nation’s Blue Revolution,” the manifesto said.

    “We will further extend the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana to increase fish production and increase our annual seafood exports,” it added.

    The BJP also promised to further strengthen and expand the insurance coverage available under PM Matsya Sampada Yojana through more technological interventions to ensure speedy and more accurate assessment, faster payouts and quicker grievance resolution.

    “We will develop production and processing clusters with special attention to women of coastal communities. We will boost seaweed cultivation under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana to increase the income of fishermen.

    “We will create sustainable livelihood opportunities for fishermen through the promotion of pearl farming,” the party manifesto said.

    As its 2019 poll promise of construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya stands fulfilled, the BJP in its 2024 manifesto expressed its commitment to a “holistic” development of Ayodhya and promised to launch a global outreach programme for promoting the legacy of Lord Ram.

    The party also promised that it would celebrate ‘Ramayan Utsav’ across the globe to commemorate the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Ram Lalla at the recently built temple in Ayodhya if it retains power.

  • BJP Manifesto 2024: Big Highlights Of ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ – BJP’s Lok Sabha Poll Promises |

    The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today released its manifesto for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. The manifesto was launched at the party’s Delhi office with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, and other senior BJP leaders in attendance. The BJP promised several steps for the welfare of farmers, youth, poor and women.  According to the BJP, the year 2025 will be declared the ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Year’. The BJP also promised to increase Mudra Yojana loan ceiling to Rs 20 lakh from Rs 10 lakh.

    Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Work on BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ will begin immediately after the June 4 results. The government has already started working on the 100-day action plan. The ambition of the people of the country is Modi’s mission. We saw the success of Chandrayaan. Now we will experience the pride of Gaganyaan. We just saw India welcoming the world to the G20 and now we will make all efforts to host the Olympics.”

    Watch LIVE: BJP releases Sankalp Patra for Lok Sabha elections 2024. #ModiKiGuarantee https://t.co/8rxAB1SuU4
    — BJP (@BJP4India) April 14, 2024

    Key points of the BJP manifesto:

    1. BJP promised the much-anticipated clarity on one nation, one election and ‘single electoral roll’. 

    2. The BJP promised to empower 3 crore more women to make them ‘Lakhpati Didi’. The party also promised to include all elderly aged over 70 years and transgender community in the Ayushman Bharat scheme. 

    3. The saffron party also promised to bring a Uniform Civil Code to the country. The UCC has been the BJP’s key poll plank besides the abrogation of Article 370 and the Ram Temple.

    4. It promises to make electricity bills zero with the PM Surya Ghar Yojana. Addressing the media on the occasion, PM Narendra Modi said that the government will work to further bolster these schemes while also providing cheaper piped natural gas to the people. 

    5. The implementation of the National Education Policy and a law against paper leaks also featured among the promises.

    6. The manifesto also promises to make India the third largest economy of the world besides setting the goal of making India a ‘global manufacturing hub’.

    7. BJP also promised to expand Vande Bharat trains to every corner of the country. Three models of Vande Bharat will run in the country – Sleeper, Chair Car and Vande Bharat Metro, said Modi. “Similarly, in the direction of modern and developed India, today the work of the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train is progressing rapidly and is almost nearing completion. Now BJP has resolved that in the coming times, we will speed up the journey towards modernity by starting one bullet train project each in North India,” said Modi. 

    8. “We will create new satellite towns, which will emerge as growth centres for the nation’s development,” said Modi.

    9. To woo Tamil voters, the BJP promised to build Thiruvalluvar cultural centres all over the world. “The world’s oldest Tamil language is our pride. BJP will undertake every tourism to enhance the global reputation of the Tamil language,” said Modi.

    10. In the last ten years, around 10 crore women have been associated with the Self-Help Groups, said the BJP. “We have decided to train these Self-Help Groups in the fields of IT, education, health, retail and tourism,” said Modi.

    The BJP had appointed a manifesto committee headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh that met twice to deliberate on its contents after the party had launched multiple exercises, including massive campaigns across the country to seek people’s suggestions before the release of the ‘Sankalp Patra’. The BJP received over 1.5 million suggestions for its manifesto, including more than 4,00,000 through the NaMo app and over 1.1 million through videos.

  • Gujarat polls: BJP manifesto vows to launch anti-radicalisation cell, uniform civic code 

    Express News Service

    AHMEDABAD: BJP’s manifesto for Gujarat promises among other initiatives, an anti-radicalisation cell.

    “We will create an anti-radicalisation cell to identify and eliminate potential threats, and sleeper cells of terrorist organizations and anti-India forces.” said BJP national president JP Nadda after releasing the party’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ or manifesto at “Shri Kamlam” office in Gandhinagar for the upcoming Gujarat assembly polls. 

    The manifesto also promises uniform civil code. “We will ensure the complete implementation of the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code Committee’s recommendation, Nadda asserted.

    Further, Nadda, in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra and state BJP chief, announced that the party will introduce the Recovery of Damages of Public and Private Properties Act. 

    “We will enact the Gujarat Recovery of Damages of Public and Private Properties Act to recover damages done to public and private properties by anti-social elements during riots, violent protests, unrest, etc.” Nadda said.

    In line with BJP’s goal to achieve, a five trillion economy target, the party promised to make Gujarat a one trillion economy. 

    “We will make Gujarat a $1 trillion economy by maintaining its pole position in manufacturing, focusing on services, and investing in human and institutional capacity-building for new-age industries. We will attract ₹5 lakh crore foreign investment and make Gujarat the Defence and Aviation Manufacturing Hub of India,” Nadda affirmed.

    To attract first-time voters and youth, BJP Promised 20 lakh employment, “We will provide 20 lakh employment opportunities to the youth of Gujarat in the next 5 years.”

    Keeping in mind the 27 tribal seats, the party promised various welfare schemes for the tribal population. For instance, it promised to initiate mobile delivery of ration across all 56 Tribal Sub Plan Talukas and to spend ₹1 lakh crore under the Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana 2.0 for the overall socio-economic development of tribals.

    The party further promised construction of a Birsa Munda Adi Jati Samriddhi Corridor between Ambaji and Umergram to spur growth by connecting every tribal district’s headquarters with a 4-6 lane state highway, and by constructing a tribal cultural circuit to connect Pal Dadhvaav and the Statue of Unity to Shabari Dham.

    Talking about health and Job facilities in tribal areas BJP Promised to ensure state-of-the-art healthcare facilities in tribal areas by setting up 8 medical colleges, and 10 nursing/para-medical colleges.  And to set up 8 GIDCs in the tribal belt to generate employment opportunities for tribal youth.

    For education in tribal areas BJP promised to set up 25 Birsa Munda Gyan Shakti Residential Schools to provide the best residential schooling facilities to 75,000 meritorious students from the tribal community.

    AHMEDABAD: BJP’s manifesto for Gujarat promises among other initiatives, an anti-radicalisation cell.

    “We will create an anti-radicalisation cell to identify and eliminate potential threats, and sleeper cells of terrorist organizations and anti-India forces.” said BJP national president JP Nadda after releasing the party’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ or manifesto at “Shri Kamlam” office in Gandhinagar for the upcoming Gujarat assembly polls. 

    The manifesto also promises uniform civil code. “We will ensure the complete implementation of the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code Committee’s recommendation, Nadda asserted.

    Further, Nadda, in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra and state BJP chief, announced that the party will introduce the Recovery of Damages of Public and Private Properties Act. 

    “We will enact the Gujarat Recovery of Damages of Public and Private Properties Act to recover damages done to public and private properties by anti-social elements during riots, violent protests, unrest, etc.” Nadda said.

    In line with BJP’s goal to achieve, a five trillion economy target, the party promised to make Gujarat a one trillion economy. 

    “We will make Gujarat a $1 trillion economy by maintaining its pole position in manufacturing, focusing on services, and investing in human and institutional capacity-building for new-age industries. We will attract ₹5 lakh crore foreign investment and make Gujarat the Defence and Aviation Manufacturing Hub of India,” Nadda affirmed.

    To attract first-time voters and youth, BJP Promised 20 lakh employment, “We will provide 20 lakh employment opportunities to the youth of Gujarat in the next 5 years.”

    Keeping in mind the 27 tribal seats, the party promised various welfare schemes for the tribal population. For instance, it promised to initiate mobile delivery of ration across all 56 Tribal Sub Plan Talukas and to spend ₹1 lakh crore under the Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana 2.0 for the overall socio-economic development of tribals.

    The party further promised construction of a Birsa Munda Adi Jati Samriddhi Corridor between Ambaji and Umergram to spur growth by connecting every tribal district’s headquarters with a 4-6 lane state highway, and by constructing a tribal cultural circuit to connect Pal Dadhvaav and the Statue of Unity to Shabari Dham.

    Talking about health and Job facilities in tribal areas BJP Promised to ensure state-of-the-art healthcare facilities in tribal areas by setting up 8 medical colleges, and 10 nursing/para-medical colleges.  And to set up 8 GIDCs in the tribal belt to generate employment opportunities for tribal youth.

    For education in tribal areas BJP promised to set up 25 Birsa Munda Gyan Shakti Residential Schools to provide the best residential schooling facilities to 75,000 meritorious students from the tribal community.

  • Punjab elections: BJP manifesto promises to waive debt of farmers, grant aid for landless

    By ANI

    CHANDIGARH: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its manifesto for the Punjab Assembly polls on Tuesday, promising to entirely waive off the debt of all farmers with less than five acres of land-holdings in the state.

    Besides, the party also promised ‘Mehnat Da Pakka Mull’ under which the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers growing fruits, vegetables, pulses, and oilseeds will be guaranteed as part of the Central Governments MSP extension programme.

    For sustaining crop diversification and making it more rewarding, the alliance promised a dedicated annual budget of Rs 5,000 crore for agriculture.

    As per an official statement from the BJP, Union Minister and BJP in-charge for Punjab Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, along with Shiromani Akali Dal-Sanyukt leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and BJP state general secretary Subash Sharma, said that this was a futuristic manifesto that is set to revolutionise the rural and agricultural economy in Punjab.

    ALSO READ| ‘Love jihad’ will result in 10-year punishment, Rs 1 lakh fine: BJP manifesto for Uttar Pradesh

    The BJP is fighting the Assembly polls in alliance with former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh-led Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa-led Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt).

    The alliance promised that one lakh acres of ‘Shamlat Land’ in the state will be allocated to rural landless farmers for cultivation. Besides, every landless farmer in the state would be given an annual financial assistance of Rs 6,000 under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sanman Yojana.

    For ‘Sustainable Green Revolution’, the manifesto promised an annual budget of Rs 5,000 crore to support Sustainable Agriculture and Organic Farming in the state.

    For special emphasis to protect Punjab’s depleting water table, free of cost rainwater harvesting units will be installed. Subsidy will be given for alternative automated and smart irrigation systems, which will help in water conservation. The irrigation department will be investigated for corruption and the corrupt officials will be brought to justice.

    To promote dairy farming, an organised milk marketing system shall be developed by establishing milk chilling centres in every village and milk processing units in a cluster of every 30 villages. Veterinary aid centres, artificial insemination and breeding centres will be established in every tehsil.

    It promised that subsidies and loans will be provided to women and those belonging to Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Economically Weaker Sections to start businesses in Dairy Farming, Poultry Farming and Beekeeping.

    The manifesto promised subsidies to agro-based industries under the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme. Tax Exempted agro-based Industrial Clusters comprising small and medium enterprises shall be formed to attract investment in rural areas. Mega Food Processing Parks will be established also.

    CLICK HERE FOR COVERAGE ON PUNJAB ELECTIONS

    To promote rural entrepreneurship, the ‘Samriddh-Pind’ scheme will be launched and funds will be allocated annually to promote rural startups. To promote MSMEs, interest and collateral-free loans will be given to the rural youth with an easy payback mechanism.

    To improve the healthcare system in villages, under the ‘Healthy Villages’ scheme, each village will have Aarogya Kendras (clinics) with 24×7 doctor facility and laboratory, in which all kinds of tests can be done.

    Availability of ‘108 ambulance’ service will be ensured in all rural areas within 15 minutes. Permanent drivers will be recruited to achieve this endeavour.

    Under the ‘Pakki Chhatt – Har Ik Da Haqq’ (Housing for All) scheme permanent houses will be provided to all economically weaker sections of the society. Under ‘Har Ghar Jal’, clean and safe piped drinking water facilities will be provided to every household.

    All villages will have a 24×7 power supply. The government will provide free electricity up to 300 units to each household and above it, the electricity tariff will be Rs 3 per unit for domestic purposes.

    High-quality smart schools will be set up in the villages with modern classrooms, computer labs and playgrounds. Annual stipend will be given to EWS and handicapped students and all girls belonging to Scheduled Caste till 10th class.

    To promote sports in rural areas, playgrounds will be developed at the village level to encourage youngsters to participate in sports. To promote sportsmanship from the school level, sports kits will be given free of cost to all the registered sports clubs and government schools.

    The BJP said that world-class facilities will be provided for grooming international level hockey players. Kabaddi will be encouraged through rural tournaments. The amount of cash rewards given to medal winners in the important International and National Games will be revised on the lines of Haryana.

    Gold Medal winners in Olympics/Paralympics will get Rs 6 crores each, silver medalists Rs 4 crores each, bronze medalists Rs 2.5 crores each and those participating in these events will get Rs 15 lakhs each. Anyone qualifying for these games will get at least Rs 15 lakhs.

    For the Asian/ Para Asian Games, it will be Rs 3 crores, Rs 1.5 crores, Rs 75 lakhs and 7.5 lakhs for gold, silver, bronze medal and participation respectively. For Commonwealth Games/ Para Commonwealth, it will be Rs 1.5 crores, Rs 75 Lakhs, Rs 50 Lakhs and Rs 7.5 Lakhs for gold, silver, bronze medals and participation respectively.

    For World Cup/Para World Cup events held once in 4 years, the prize money will be Rs 1.5 Crores, Rs 75 Lakhs, Rs 50 Lakhs and Rs 7.5 Lakhs for gold, silver, bronze medals and participation respectively.

    For National Games/ Para National Games the prize money for gold, silver and bronze medals will be 5 Lakhs 3 Lakhs 2 Lakhs respectively, while for the State Level Games it will be Rs 21,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively for the gold, silver and bronze medals.

    Punjab will go to the polls on February 14 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10. In the 2017 Assembly polls in the state, Congress won an absolute majority by winning 77 seats and ousted the SAD-BJP government which had been in power for 10 years.

  • NRC correction, flood control, protection of rights find place in BJP’s poll manifesto for Assam

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI: BJP national president J P Nadda on Tuesday released the party’s manifesto for Assam assembly polls, promising to protect the political rights of people through a delimitation exercise.

    The party also made ‘ten commitments’ in the manifesto — one of which is initiation of a process to “correct and reconcile” the entries made as part of the Supreme Court- mandated National Register of Citizens exercise, as it seeks to “protect genuine Indian citizens and exclude all illegal immigrants”.

    The manifesto underlined that the BJP, if voted to power, will provide free education to every child, make arrangements to control floods and ensure that the state achieves “self-sufficiency” when it comes to production of essential items.

    It further gave assurance that payments made to women under ‘Orundoi’ scheme will be increased to Rs 3,000 from the current Rs 830, and eligible residents would be empowered with land rights.

    Nadda, after releasing the document, said that Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be implemented in Assam when the time is right.

    Taking a dig at the Congress, he said, “The party had been claiming that it wouldn’t allow implementation of CAA, which is a central legislation.They are either ignorant or trying to fool the people of the state.” 

  • BJP releases Bengal poll manifesto, promises CAA, 33% reservation for women

    By Online Desk
    The BJP on Sunday unveiled its manifesto for the West Bengal elections, promising to build a “Sonar Bangla” by providing employment, strengthening social security schemes and vowing to clear the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act in the first cabinet meeting of the new government.

    Speaking at the event, Shah said, “We have decided to call our manifesto a ‘Sankalp Patra’. It is not just a manifesto but a resolution letter for West Bengal by the country’s largest party. We will create a Sonar Bangla”.

    Unveiling the “Sonar Bangla Sankalpa Patra” at EZCC in Salt Lake, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that BJP will ensure the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat healthcare scheme and the PM-Kisan programme in the state, besides giving at least one job per family.

    The BJP’s manifesto mentioned that no infiltrators to be allowed in Bengal and border fencing will be strengthened with CCTVs and other devices. “The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be implemented during the first cabinet meeting after forming the government,” Shah said. However, the Home Ministry is yet to form rules for the Law that was passed in 2019.

    BJP releases ‘Sonar Bangla Sankalp’ Promises-*33% reservation for women in jobs*Three new AIIMS*Rs 6000 assurance for fisherfolks*Strengthening Indo-Bangla border*Free public transport for women*One job per family*Implementation of 7th pay commission@NewIndianXpress
    — Alisha Rahaman Sarkar (@zohrabai) March 21, 2021

    Assuring to provide arrears of Rs 18,000 to 75 lakh farmers of the state under PM-Kisan, the BJP promised Rs 10,000 per year for them, if voted to power, with Rs 6,000 being contributed by the Centre and the rest by the state.

    The party also announced a Rs 5,000 crore intervention fund to assure farmers’ economic security, besides accidental insurance worth Rs 3 lakh for small farmers and fishermen.

    In the manifesto, the party promised a Sonar Bangla fund worth Rs 11,000 crore to promote art, literature and other such sectors, and a Tagore Prize on the lines of the Nobel Prize.

    The party also promised a Satyajit Ray Award on the lines of Academy Award and take the Kolkata International Film Festival few notches higher.

    The BJP also promised a seventh pay commission implementation for state government employees and 33 percent reservation for women in state government jobs.

    Other than reservation and free education for women, the promise-list announced to increase widow pension to Rs 3,000 from Rs 1,000 and set up 12 battalion comprising women only.

    Political observers in Bengal said the announcement of 33 percent reservation for women in state government jobs and a free ride in state transports is aimed to woo the women electorates who share half stake of the state’s total electorates.

    Promising to act tough on infiltration, the BJP promised “strictest border security”.

    The party also promised free KG to PG education for all women and free travel for them in public transport.

    It promised to build new AIIMS in North Bengal, Jungle Mahal and Sunderban regions, besides toilets and clean drinking water for every family.

    Shah said that when the BJP forms the government in West Bengal, people would not have to go to court for organising Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja.

    “Bengal has turned into one of the most unsafe states for women. Inaction for years has broken the dreams of the youth and has stopped the flow of employment.”

    Hitting out at the Mamata Banerjee government, Shah said an official of director general of police will head the anti-corruption branch which will probe into all cases of corruption during TMC’s regime and brought all the accused to the court of law.

    “Besides, an anti-corruption cell be opened in the chief minister’s office and complainants can directly reach to the CM,” he said.

    In the poll manifesto, the party also promised a Rs 20,000 crore Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Fund for the infrastructure development of schools, and five universities at par with IITs and IIMs.

    The party said that to transform Kolkata into an international city, it will set up a Kolkata Development Fund worth Rs 22,000 crore and also ensure that the metropolis becomes a UNESCO Heritage City.

    The party said that Kolkata will be established as a center for financial services, and promised free electricity upto 200 units for domestic consumption in the city.

    The BJP further promied to extend Kolkata Metro services to Serampore, Dhulagarh and Kalyani.

    “We have decided that we will clear the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA in the first cabinet meeting itself, besides approving the Ayushman Bharat scheme for the benefit of the poor,” Shah said.

    Alleging Bengal reached the peak in the segment of political violence, Shah announced a special investigation team will be set up to investigate the political killings, and victim families will be given Rs 25 lakh compensation irrespective of their political allegiance.

    The Centre is yet to frame the rules for implementing the CAA, which has faced strong opposition from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who took to the streets against the law in December 2019.

    Shah also announced, “The refugee families living here for 70 years will be granted citizenship. Every refugee family will be given Rs 10,000 annually for five years through direct benefit transfer (DBT).”

    He said that his party would work towards building a safe Bengal, an “appeasement-free Bengal” and an infiltration-free state, if voted to power.

    “We will bring back the Bengal that made the entire nation proud,” Shah said.

    “You have given time to Congress, over 30 years to Communists and ten years to TMC. Give us five years to build a Sonar Bangla,” he said, urging the people to vote for the BJP.

    If voted to power, the BJP would set up a special task force to look into corruption charges regarding Amphan relief, sand mining and illegal coal mining, Shah said.

    The party will put an end to institutionalisation of corruption, criminalisation of politics and politicisation of administration, the senior BJP leader said.

    Allocating Rs 1,000 crore for promoting tourism, the manifesto said nine tourist circuits will be developed in the state.

    “Don’t worry about the funding for these projects, it will cost not more than 15 per cent of the state budget,” Shah claimed.

    The BJP also promised to raise the daily wage of tea garden workers to Rs 350, and a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 to Matua Dalpatis.

    The party said ‘Annapurna Canteen’ will be set up across the state to provide subsidised cooked food three times a day at Rs 5 per meal, besides subsidised ration will be provided through PDS — rice or wheat at Rs 1 per kg, dal at Rs 30 per kg, salt at Rs 3 per kg and sugar at Rs 5 per kg.

    Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee criticised the promises, calling it a “jumla-laden manifesto”.

    “A party that cannot find sufficient candidates for all 294 seats in Bengal is now faltering to find local leadership for such key events,” he said, taking a dig at the BJP as Shah released the manifesto.

    TMC MP Saugata Roy said many promises in the manifesto were “poor copies” of the announcements made by the TMC.

    “They have copied our already popular Maa Canteen which gives the public nutritious lunch at Rs 5. Even the sops for girl students is derived from our internationally acclaimed projects,” he claimed.

    “Unlike Mamata Banerjee, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah don’t follow up on their promises. And all said and done there is no possibility of BJP coming to power in Bengal,” Roy added, questioning the party over attacks on women in UP where it has a government.

    On the Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar Fund announcement, he said, “No one has forgotten the incident of vandalising the bust of social reformer in 2019.”

    CPI(M) leader Md Salim also criticised the manifesto, saying the promises made are nothing but “lies”.

    Elections to the 294-member state Assembly will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.

    (With PTI and ENS Inputs)

  • Amit Shah to release BJP’s manifesto for West Bengal on March 21

    By ANI
    KOLKATA: Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on Friday said the party’s manifesto for the forthcoming West Bengal Assembly polls will be released by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah on March 21 in Kolkata.

    “BJP manifesto for West Bengal Assembly elections will be released by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on March 21 in Kolkata,” Vijayvargiya said.

    West Bengal is witnessing a high-octane battle between the BJP and the TMC for the upcoming Assembly polls.

    Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.