BJP touts state growth in poll vision document
ELECTORAL PLANKS Ruling party promises more jobs for EBCs and allround development AHMEDABAD:
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vision document for Gujarat assembly elections, released a little over 12 hours before the first phase of polling on Saturday, pledge to build ‘New Gujarat’, on the lines of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘New India’, free of poverty and communal and caste divide.
“Among larger states, Gujarat is the only state to maintain double digit growth. The BJP’s vision for state is to maintain the same,” said Union finance minister Arun Jaitley while releasing the document in Ahmedabad on Friday evening.
He quoted a Crisil report saying the BJP government’s performance spoke for itself. The ratings agency report puts Gujarat at the top among the states with the highest GSDP growth in the past five years.
“This was a time, when there was no boom globally or in the national economy. In the past five years under BJP rule, Gujarat has recorded 10% average growth rate — highest among the large states. No country in the world is growing at this rate. Even China’s pace of growth has reduced to 6.5%,” he said crediting the state government for development on social and economic fronts.
The document was released a day after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi took a dig at the BJP in a tweet, saying, “The BJP has shown unbelievable disrespect towards the people of Gujarat. Campaign is over and still no mention of a manifesto for the people, no vision and no ideas presented for Gujarat’s future.”
The Congress had released its manifesto on December 4, promising special reservation to economically backward, nonreserved classes, as demanded by the Patidar agitation led by Hardik Patel. Because of the 2-yearold agitation, the BJP, for the first time in 3 decades, is unsure about unflinching support from this community that can influence results in over 60 of a total of assmebly 182 seats.
The opposition also took on another of the current government’s promises while releasing its manifesto. Congress president To double agriculture income Interest free loans and satisfactory MSP
Establish industries that can generate employment
Financial assistance for start ups and skill development
Special fund for women empowerment
Promote girl child education and school enrollment drives
Expand the quality of education
Mobile clinics and start of 252 diagnostic laboratories Bharatsinh Solanki had said, “Only 4.7 lakh of promised 50 lakh houses have been built in five years.”
On the Congress’ reservation promise to the Patidar community, Jaitley retorted saying, “The social polarisation in the state will only damage the state. If Congress moves ahead on this path, they will cause massive damage to the state just as they did in 1980s’’.
Speaking about the party’s agenda, state BJP chief Jitu Vaghani said, “The BJP has ruled Free Gujarat from vector-borne diseases by 2022
‘Pucca’ houses for the poor Water connections and toilets in every household
New policy for semi conductors and tele communication equipment manufacturing sector
World class basic working model for industrials hubs
Effective implementation of laws to protect tribes
Formation of a district-level Tribal Development Board
Financial assistance to people connected with traditional occupations
the state for 22-years and it aims to further strengthen services and resources in all the sectors including education, healthcare, job creation, industries, support to senior citizens ...”
“The BJP has already formed a commission and board for the non-reserved classes,” he added.
For the economically backward classes, the document said the party would continue scholarships and also committed to creating new jobs.
Taking more jibes at the Congress’ agenda, Jaitley added,
Double funds to the Thakor and Koli development corporations
Formation of a committee for the welfare of nomadic tribes
‘Pucca’ houses for everyone
Financial aid to dalit industrialists
Effective implementation of laws
100% security insurance Affordable healthcare and canteens
Scholarships to students New job opportunities
“The Congress promise of reservation is constitutionally not viable. Other promises are not financially viable.Congress looks at financially improbable concessions. Against the state’s revenue of ₹90,000 crore, the party has promised additional financial concessions worth ₹1,21,000 crore. It has also promised to waive ₹20,000 crore, that means the revenue will drop to ₹70,000 crore.”. He was referring to the Congress’ promise to waive off farm loans and reduce fuel and electricity prices.