BJP dilutes Hindutva plank in manifesto
The BJP’s election manifesto released on Friday had more “poor first” and “putting more money on people’s hands” schemes – than Hindutva rhetoric. The party is wooing economically weaker sections and the middle-class while keeping National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies in good humour.
Building the Ram temple, saving the Ram Sethu, ushering in the uniform civil code, removal of Article 370, and protection of the cow figure as BJP’s commitment to “cultural heritage” but they appear to have been done only to keep the Sangh Parivar happy. Improving upon the Congress’s promise on cheap rations, the party vowed to provide 35 kg rice to poor families at Rs 2 a kg and wheat at Rs 3.5 per kg.
The Congress, in its manifesto, had said it would provide 25 kg rice or wheat per month at Rs 3 per kg to the poor. L K Advani, the party’s prime-ministerial candidate, said the choice before the people was between BJP-led NDA or the Congress-led formation, calling the Third Front a “farcical optical illusion.
” The BJP promised to waive all farm loans, give new loans at 4 per cent interest rate, set up “worker banks” to provide a safety net for unorganised sector workers, bring in a farm income insurance scheme that will insure both the price and the produce for every farmer, who will also be entitled to a pension when he gets old. The party will extend the Madhya Pradesh government’s ‘Ladli Lakshmi’ Scheme throughout India to directly transfer a Rs 1.18 lakh fund to the school-going girl child to ensure that she becomes economically self-sufficient.
It will provide bicycles to every below-poverty-line school-going girl child families. The BJP also promised to directly pay Rs 1,500 to open a bank account for every adult woman, to be accessed by biometric cards usable through fingerprints.
Wooing middle-class voters, the BJP said it would exempt income up to Rs three lakh from tax and give an additional exemption benefit of Rs 50,000 to women and senior citizens. Promising a low tax, low interest regime so that people have more money and their purchasing power increases, the BJP pledged a slew of measures to serve as an impetus for the economy.
It said it regenerate jobs through huge public spending on infrastructure, complete A.B. Vajpayee’s National Highway Project, and through massive vocational training programmes and job creation schemes both in rural and urban areas. A network of National Knowledge Incubation Centres will be set up throughout the country to identify and groom young talent.
Study loans will be made cheaper and accessible by fixing student loan interest at 4 per cent. The BJP sought to reach out to the armed forces promising them complete exemption from income tax and introduce ‘One Rank, One Pension’ scheme and promised a separate pay commission too
Source Courtesy From - DPA - ANI - earthtimes.org -
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