The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has set the tone for the upcoming Karnataka assembly election as party national president JP Nadda released its election manifesto, Praja Dhwani, on Monday.
While the party gives a major push to Karnataka’s trademark Nandini milk, it also promises three LPG cylinders to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.
But what should draw attention is the BJP’s promise to implement the Uniform Civil Code in the state along with the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
The BJP will introduce the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) based on the recommendations of a high-level committee to be constituted for the purpose, the manifesto stated.
The manifesto also promises to compile the NRC “to ensure speedy deportation of all illegal immigrants in the state”.
Chief minister and former CM BS Yediyurappa were also present on the occasion.
Releasing the BJP vision document, Nadda said, “The double engine government of the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes in ‘Delivery Best Without Waste’ and also implements it.”
Speaking about the freebies, Nadda said, “The BJP government moves towards economic and social justice. BJP will provide three free cooking gas cylinders to all BPL families annually – one each during the months of Yugadi, Ganesh Chaturthi and Diwali.”
“The party will launch the ‘Poshane’ scheme through which every BPL household will be provided with half a litre of Nandini milk every day and 5 kg of Shri Anna Shri Dhanya through monthly ration kits,” he added.
“We will set up an ‘Atal Aahara Kendra’ in every ward of every municipal corporation in the state to provide affordable, quality and healthy food across the state,” Nadda added.
Talking about the themes in the manifesto, Nadda said, “Our manifesto is centred on six themes: Food Security, Quality Education, Affordable and Accessible Healthcare, Assured Income Support, Social Justice for All and Development and Prosperity for All.”
Taking on Congress stalwart and former CM Siddaramaiah, Nadda said, “Siddaramaiah government of Congress was a reverse gear government; it looted the natural resources, let the criminal and antisocial elements run amok, and appeasing a certain section of society only to consolidate its vote-bank!”
Calling Siddaramaiah government a ‘trouble engine’, Nadda said, “We are a government of ‘Double Engine’, theirs is a ‘Trouble Engine’. We are here to give pace to the development, they only give breaks to the development. We will make Karnataka a trillion-dollar economy by 2030 which will generate approximately 75 lakh direct and indirect jobs,” Nadda said.
Nadda also described crime and Congress as synonyms. “There was a huge decline in law and order in Karnataka under the Congress regime. PFI was given a free hand to terrorise people during Congress’s rule. Bengaluru had become the second most unsafe city in the country for women at that time. When Siddaramaiah was the Chief Minister, 175 cases against PFI were withdrawn and 1750 people from PFI were released,” Nadda stated.
“When the BJP government came to power, PFI was banned and the NIA was given a free hand to investigate. Nearly 41,000 cameras were installed in the cities of Karnataka to ensure the safety of women,” he added.
With just a couple of days remaining for the voting day, the ruling BJP is in top gear to woo the electorate, with Union Home minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah scheduled to hold four roadshows in Karnataka.