A caste-based census, bestowing of posthumous Bharat Ratna to Maharashtra’s late chief minister Y B Chavan, according classical language status to Marathi and an increase in the annual grant to farmers under the “Kisaan Samman Nidhi” are some of the promises made in the Lok Sabha poll manifesto released by the NCP ( Ajit Pawar) on Monday.
The NCP (AP) manifesto, released by the party’s national president Ajit Pawar and working President Praful Patel, promises to widen the scope of Agricultural Crop Insurance Scheme, to increase the loans to Rs 20 lakh from Rs 10 lakh under the Mudra Yojana Scheme and according of Constitutional status to National Backward Classes Commission.
Seeking to touch the emotional chord of the Maharashtrians, the NCP (AP) has promised to bestow late chief minister Y B Chavan with the coveted “Bharat Ratna”. Describing late Y B Chavan Chavan as the Architect of “United Maharashtra”, the NCP (AP) stated in its manifesto: “He is an inspiration to the NCP. His political life is cultured and respected. As the nation’s Deputy Prime Minister, Defence Minister, Chairman of the Eighth Finance Commission and the first chief minister of United Maharashtra, he has a lion’s share in building the nation and Maharashtra,” the manifesto said.
“NCP will play an important role in ensuring the Hon’able Yeshwantrao Chavan Saheb is honoured with the Bharat Ratna,” the manifesto added.
Vowing to bring the deprived and backward sections into the mainstream of the society, the NCP said that it would demand a caste-based census. "Our party believes in the right to live as a human irrespective of caste, creed and religion. It believes in equality and unity. The NCP has faith in social reformer Sane Guruji's quote, The true religion is to offer love to the world. We must bring the deprived and backward sections of society into the mainstream. We will demand for a caste-based census," the manifesto stated.
“We will continue to push for the implementation of measures and funds to ensure that the students from the minority communities will get opportunities of higher education, entrepreneurship and employment through the institution,” the manifesto stated.
The NCP manifesto has promised to have Maulana Azad Research and Training Institute at the national level.
Among other things, the party promises to make efforts for Maharashtra to become the skill development capital of India and to grow industries with modern skill development technology by increasing the scope of Vishwakarma Yojana for 12 Balutedar (artisans, craftsmen) classes. It will try to increase educated and skilled youth's remuneration to Rs 20,000 per month in private companies on contractual basis. The NCP (AP) proposes 50 per cent discount on railway and metro travel to senior citizens above 60 years all over the country and implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme for citizens aged above 70 years.
Promising to take up river-linking and river-purification projects on a large scale at the national level, the NCP (AP) said: ‘’It is our endeavour to ensure that projects like Krishna-Bhima stabilization , Nar-Par scheme, and Western Ghats rainwater diversion to drought-prone areas are taken up as ambitious projects having a positive impact,’’ the manifesto stated.
