Reform, perform, transform: BJP details manifesto mantra
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government will continue pursuing its agenda of reform, perform and transform to ensure social justice and empowerment of the poor, youth, women and farmers and push for fulfilling the vision of a viksit bharat or developed India by 2047, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while releasing the party’s election manifesto on Sunday. He also put on record the government’s intent to implement the uniform civil code (UCC), pointing out that a common set of laws was in the country’s interest.
The PM exuded confidence about the party’s return to power for a third term and said the plan to implement the BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ or manifesto will begin immediately after the June 4 results. “The government has already started working on the 100-day action plan,” he said.
In his 87-minute-long speech, Modi gave an account of his government’s achievements of the last decade and said a big reason why people now wait for the party’s manifesto is that in the last 10 years every promise has been implemented.
“Jinko kisi ne nahi poocha, unko Modi pujta hai (Modi worships those who were neglected by the others),” he said.
He also pitched for a third term in office, pointing out that a “decisive government” that has “absolute majority” is needed to steer the country at a time of global crises and “war-like situation”.
“In such a stressful time, the safety of Indians is our priority. India needs a strong, government with full majority that can make it economically strong and also take it towards Viksit Bharat. The manexpanded ifesto promises such a government,” he said.
Having fulfilled promises that were contentious issues such as the Abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir and passage of the women’s reservation Bill, he said the government did not shy away from taking “bade aur kade nirnay” (big and tough decisions) as it believes in “dal se bada desh” (country is bigger than the party) and spoke about the need for a uniform civil code and one nation, one election. “The UCC is in the interest of the country,” he said. Implementation of the UCC has been a long-standing demand of the BJP’s ideological fount, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and has been part of the manifesto for decades; while the PM is the biggest advocate of synchronised polls for picking new assemblies and the Lok Sabha.
Referring to the manifesto, he said, “The BJP has proved there is sanctity of the manifesto. The four pillars of GYAN --Gareeb (poor), Yuva (youth), Annadaata (farmers), and Nari (women) are empowered. Our focus is dignity of life and quality of life; our focus is on nivesh se naukari (investment and work); quantity of opportunity and quality of opportunities. On the one hand we have spoken about job creation through infrastructure development and on the other on start-ups.”
Asserting that the government has been mindful of the aspirations of the youth and those who are on margins, Modi said while the government has pulled out 25 crore people from poverty, efforts are still made to improving the quality of their life.
“These people still need handholding, otherwise even a small slip up can lead to a problem. We are expanding social schemes like free ration for the next five years. ‘Pet, man aur jeb bhi bhare’ (pocket, heart and stomach should be full),” he said.
The government is seeking a third straight term in office on the back of its social schemes, including the free ration that was started during the Covid pandemic. The government’s pitch for re-election is pivoted on the delivery of schemes such as susbsidised healthcare, which includes a provision of treatment up to Rs 5 lakh for eligible sections and subsidised medicines at the Jan Aushadhi Kendras or generic medicine stores.
Modi announced that the scope and reach of these schemes will be and those above 70 years, irrespective of their economic and social status will be eligible for benefits of the Ayushman Yojna.
Having reaped electoral dividends from implementation of schemes for rural poor such as subsidised cooking fuel and housing, piped water, and road infrastructure, Modi promised the construction of another 3 crore houses (in addition to the existing 4 core) under the PM Awas Yojna.
He also spoke about the efforts underway to promote PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojna, a scheme to promote solar power generation that in addition to meeting the demand for electricity will also allow individuals with surplus power generation to sell and make money.
At a time when the opposition has accused the government of misusing central agencies for political vendetta, the PM asserted that the government will not deviate from its stated position of cracking down on corruption. “Action will continue against the corrupt,” he said.
He also attempted to blunt the opposition’s criticism of the government’s failure to meet the target of creating jobs and steering the economy out of choppy waters, by promising to increase loan sanctions for entrepreneurs under the Mudra loan scheme. “Entrepreneurs were created by Mudra Yojna and lakhs became job creatorsnow Mudra limit will be increased from 10 lakh to 20 lakh. The ecosystem needed for industry 4.0 will also be enabled by this,” he said. Modi’s announcement of enhancing loans under the Swanidhi Yojna for hawkers is also an attempt to deflect criticism about the state of economy and inflation that has hit the middle class and the lower income groups the most.