New Delhi: The BJP has unveiled its manifesto for the Uttar Pradesh elections, promising 20 per cent reservation for women in government jobs in the state if it is voted to power.
The party also promises to make petrol and diesel cheaper in the state by bringing down the sales tax. It also vows to pave the way for the construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya.
The party claims its manifesto is based on the principle of Sab Ek Saman, Sab Ko Samman, Sab Mahan (All are equal, all are respected, all are great)'. The manifesto was released in Lucknow on Monday by party vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu and state party president Keshari Nath Tripathi.
The party also pledged to restore the rule of law and bring in a POTA-like legislation in the state to take action against those patronising the SIMI and ISI.
Playing the 'Hindutva' card, the party says it will make recital of Vande Mataram and 'Surya Namaskar' compulsory in the schools to inculcate nationalism among the children. Naidu rejected a contention that 'Surya Namaskar' was in any way attached with any particular religion and said it was good for the health of the children.
The manifesto doesn't contain any big promise for the Ayodhya Ram temple. Rather, the party says it "will also strive to remove the obstacles in the way of the construction of Ram temple."
The manifesto says the Ram temple issue was attached to the faith and belief of millions of people but the BSP, SP and Congress were opposing the temple construction for political reasons.
"Hindutva is the life blood of the nationhood, but the BSP, Congress and the Left are now attacking us owing to votebank politics... Hindutva is a matter of pride for the BJP," the manifesto says.
The manifesto says cow slaughter would be declared a cognisable offence.
The party also vowed to get rid of the existing mafia-politicians nexus. "We want to establish the rule of law in the state," Naidu said. He said if BJP is voted to power, the government would identify all those people who have been patronising the SIMI and ISI in the state.
The 28-page comprehensive manifesto document identifies ''terrorism and separatism as major problems affecting the state.''
"The illegal infiltrators from Bangladesh would be identified and sent back, the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) be banned and effective steps be taken to check the activities of ISI and other separatist organisations and infiltration of terrorists and weapons from across the Nepal border," it said.
The party also promised to streamline the state police force. ''Non-interfering administration and an accountable police system coupled with strict monitoring from the top level would be the order of the day during BJP rule," it vows.
The party committed itself to 20 per cent reservation for women in government jobs as well as 50 per cent reservation to them in civic and panchayat polls.
Seeking to counter the popular 'Kanya Vidya Dhan Scheme' of the Samajwadi Party-led government in the state, the manifesto listed out several schemes for women including 'Ladli Lakshmi Yojana' in which the government would invest Rs 30,000 in a development bond at the time of the birth of girl child, which would be used for her education till she attains the age of 21.
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