BJP manifesto for Himachal polls lists uniform civil code & vows to stop illegal use of Waqf properties

Shimla: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda on Sunday released the party’s manifesto for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections with 11 commitments that include the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code and the investigation of Waqf properties by judicial committees in the state.

Apart from implementing UCC, the BJP spoke about conducting a survey on all wakf properties in the state and setting up a judicial Commission to investigate the illegal usage of all such properties in the state.

The manifesto also promises to create 8 lakh job opportunities and give bicycles to school going girls and scooties to those pursuing higher education.

BJP national President J P Nadda this morning released the party’s Vision document –the manifesto for November 12 elections, which tried to counter the Congress allurements and offered 11- solemn commitments to the people.

Nadda, who replied to questions of newsmen later said the BJP was heading for a comfortable majority in the polls — raj (Government) Nahin ,Riwaaz Badal Raha hai. Its advantage is Himachal Pradesh because of ‘double engine Sarkar”.

The party manifesto remains silent on the Old Pension scheme (OPS) –which has become a big poll issue for the Congress. The manifesto, however, has promised to remove all discrepancies in the remuneration of government employees.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur—who was also present clarified that a committee has already been set up by the state government to resolve the OPS issue.

The manifesto also has 11 resolutions and promises for the women, which importantly includes 33 reservations for women in all government jobs and educational institutions in the state.

Nadda tried to draw a distinction between the Congress manifesto and BJP saying “ there is a difference between the allurements and empowerment. Through, our manifesto, we are trying to power women, youths, farmers and government employees but the Congress is doing freebies”

Clearly aiming to hit back at the Congress promise of interest free loans to youths for start-ups, the BJP promised Rs 500 crore fund for granting interest free loans to women entrepreneurs and a Rs 25000 to every pregnant women to ensure proper treatment in hospital –a step towards month and child care.

For girl students, from class 6 to class 12, a bicycle will be given to go to schools. In every district, two girls’ hostels would be set up and girls doing higher studies will get scooties as a means of travelling to the colleges and universities.

The BJP manifesto proposes to institute a scheme — Mukjyamantri Annadaata Samman Nidhi to provide Rs 3000 annually to the small farmers over and above  Rs 6000 per annum given under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.

Against the Congress promise to give 5 lakh jobs, the BJP has promised 8 lakh new job opportunities to youths of Himachal Pradesh. A start-up scheme with a corpus funding of Rs 900 cr will be started for the youths.

“ All villages will be connected with all-weather pakka roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana in the next five years with investment of Rs 5000 crore

There is a proposal to launch a Rs 12000 crore programme— Shakti to develop physical infrastructure around all prominent temples.

The BJP, on return to power, will provide 3 LPG cylinders to women of poor families under Devi Annapoorna Yojana.

For the farmers, the BJP promised to freeze the GST on apple cartons (packaging material) at 12 percent.

The BJP manifesto comes just a day after the Congress released its election manifesto for the state which talks about 10 poll “guarantees” .

The promise to implement UCC comes close on the heels of the Gujarat government having announced a panel to review its execution. Uttarakhand has also set-up a committee to suggest modalities for UCC implementation.