The BJP on Monday promised in its manifesto for Karnataka the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), introduction of the National Register of Citizens, 10 lakh jobs in the manufacturing sector and a State Capital Region tag for Bengaluru, besides free cooking gas cylinders thrice a year for BPL families and “Atal” food centres to provide affordable and healthy food.
In a bid to outmatch the Congress which is yet to release its manifesto, the BJP also seeks to launch the “Poshan” scheme through which every BPL household will be provided with half litre “Nandini” milk every day and five kg “Shri Anna” through monthly ration.
The Congress, which is trying hard to make a comeback in the State, has during the course of the campaign had already made a rainbow of promises to voters, including 200 units of free power to all homes, 10 kg of rice to BPL households, `2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head in every family and a monthly allowance of `3,000 to unemployed graduates in the State.
The BJP said it would provide three free cooking gas cylinders to all BPL families — one each during the months of “Yugadi”, “Ganesh Chaturthi” and “Deepavali” and set up an “Atal Aahara Kendra” in every ward of every municipal corporation in the State.
Releasing the manifesto called “Praja Pranalike” (citizens’ manifesto) in Bengaluru in the presence of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Lingayat stalwart BS Yediyurappa, BJP president JP Nadda said the manifesto was not prepared in an air-conditioned room but after feedback from party workers who had visited every corner of the State and gathered inputs.
The underlining theme of the document, he said was “justice for all, appeasement for none”.
The BJP chief said that the party’s Government in the State has abolished the “unconstitutional” reservation for Muslims. Just before the polls were announced, the Cabinet decided to do away with the 4 per cent reservation for Muslims and divide it equally between Lingayats and Vokkaligas -- two politically-influential caste groups in Karnataka.
The move has sparked protests from the Opposition, with the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) promising to restore the reservation if they come to power.
The manifesto said, “We will implement the UCC in Karnataka based on the recommendations given by a high-level committee which is to be constituted for the purpose” and “introduce the National Register of Citizens in Karnataka and ensure speedy deportation of all illegal immigrants in the State”.
“The Constitution (of India) allows us to move in the direction of Uniform Civil Code. ‘Justice to all; appeasement to none’ is our policy”, Nadda said.
The party also promised to create a special wing in the State called ‘Karnataka State Wing against Religious Fundamentalism and Terror (K-SWIFT).
In the tourism sector, the manifesto promised a Rs 1,500-crore plan to develop several circuits and corridors to transform Karnataka into the country’s top tourism hub.
The party promised ‘Sarvarigu Suru Yojane’ under which the Revenue Department will identify and distribute 10 lakh housing sites across the State to the homeless beneficiaries.
According to Nadda, the BJP’s manifesto is centred around six ‘As’.
“These six-As are Anna (food security), Akshara (quality education), Arogya (affordable health), Aadaya (assured income), Abhaya (social justice for all) and Abhivruddhi (Development),” he noted.
In the ‘Aarogya’ category, the BJP has promised to launch ‘Mission Swasthya Karnataka’ by establishing one ‘Namma Clinic’ (our clinic) in each ward of the municipal corporations. They will be equipped with diagnostic facilities. Also, it will provide a free annual master health check-up for senior citizens.
The party said if it is voted to power, it will allocate Rs 1,500 crore to develop Kalyana Circuit, Banavasi Circuit, Parashurama Circuit, Kaveri Circuit and Ganagapura Corridor to transform Karnataka into India’s most favoured tourist destination.
Further, the party will broaden the scope of Production Linked Incentive Schemes that will generate 10 lakh jobs eventually in Karnataka.
“It is a manifestation of the ‘double engine Government’. This manifesto is futuristic and a vision document, which fulfills the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of developed India,” Nadda said.
According to him, the BJP manifesto is different from the promises of Congress, “which offers guarantees, an outdated warranty”.
The Janata Dal (Secular), the third party in the keenly-fought contest, has promised a legislation to provide reservation to Kannadigas in the private sector. It has also said that it will push the Central Government to hold civil services and Defence recruitment exams in Kannada, too.
Increasingly banking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to draw votes in the State, the BJP is organising his public meetings in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi this week. Voting is slated in Karnataka on May 10 with results announced on May 13.
