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BJP Manifesto: Abrogation of Article 370 and 35A, doubling farm income, sanitary pads at Rs 1 and other features

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DailyBiteApr 08, 2019 | 14:51

BJP Manifesto: Abrogation of Article 370 and 35A, doubling farm income, sanitary pads at Rs 1 and other features

With less than three days to go for the first phase of polling, the BJP released its election manifesto — the Sankalp Patra — making 75 pledges in its manifesto, all of which the party says can be fulfilled by 2022 when India celebrates 75 years of independence.

The release of the manifesto was significant because in a break from what became a BJP tradition in the past five years, prominent BJP leaders spoke before Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the key promises of the party's manifesto.

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Sankalp Patra: PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh with the BJP manifesto. (Source: Twitter/@BJP4India)

Leaders who spoke before Modi included party president Amit Shah, home minister Rajnath Singh, foreign affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and finance minister Arun Jaitley.

The document itself, however, had only Modi’s photo on the cover against the backdrop of the general public.

The BJP is clearly fighting the election banking on Modi’s image, but also putting other senior leaders ahead, thereby apparently taking on the opposition charge of the party having become a 'one-man show'.

So, what are the key promises the BJP is making through its Sankalp Patra now?

Doubling farmers’ income

In the beginning of his term as PM, Modi had promised to double farm income by 2022. The promise has found a formal mention in the BJP’s manifesto now. The manifesto reads: “At the very beginning of our current term, Prime Minister Modi embarked on a mission to double farmers’ income. We will make all efforts to achieve this goal by 2022.”

Coupled with the promise of housing for all by 2022, the plan could boost the rural economy and infrastructure in villages.

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The party has promised that the Rs 6000 income support promised in the PM Kisan Yojana will be extended to all farmers. It has also promised a pension facility to small and marginal farmers over 60 years of age.

The BJP has promised Rs 25 lakh crore investment in agri-rural sector to improve the productivity of the farm sector.

The party has also promised interest-free Kisan Credit Card loans. “We will provide short-term new agriculture loans up to Rs 1 lakh at a 0 per cent interest rate for 1-5 years on the condition of prompt repayment of the principal amount,” the manifesto read.

While these are significant promises in terms of boosting the floundering farm sector, what would be interesting to see is what voters choose between the Congress' minimum income guarantee scheme of Rs 72,000 to each BPL family, or the gradual strengthening and empowering of the country’s poor.

Jammu & Kashmir – Article 370

The BJP has — once again — promised to annul Article 370 and 35A.

The manifesto reads: “We are committed to annulling Article 35A of the Constitution of India as the provision is discriminatory against non-permanent residents and women of Jammu and Kashmir. We believe that Article 35A is an obstacle in the development of the state. We will take all steps to ensure a safe and peaceful environment for all residents of the state. We will make all efforts to ensure the safe return of Kashmiri Pandits and we will provide financial assistance for the resettlement of refugees from West Pakistan, Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) and Chhamb.”

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With regard to Article 370, it says, “We reiterate our position since the time of Jan Sangh to the abrogation of Artcile 370.”

But the party would have some trouble explaining to the voters why it entered into an alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — a party which has always sent veiled threats of severing ties with the Indian state if the said Articles are tampered with.

Citizenship Amendment Bill

Unfazed by the criticism of the Citizenship Bill, the BJP has promised to go ahead with it. The party, however, promises to reach out to people who have raised concerns over the said bill.

Here’s what the party manifesto says:

“We are committed to the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Bill for the protection of individuals of religious minority communities from neighbouring countries escaping persecution. We will make all efforts to clarify the issues to the sections of population from the Northeastern states who have expressed apprehensions regarding the legislation. We reiterate our commitment to protect the linguistic, cultural and social identity of the people of Northheast. Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs escaping persecution from India’s neighbouring countries will be given citizenship in India.”

The Ram Mandir

The BJP seems to have toned down its pitch for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, from saying “Mandir wahin banayenge” to “evaluating all options and working towards its [Ram Mandir] construction in a peaceful atmosphere”.

The BJP seems to have realised that the aspiration India is more interested in today is a peaceful atmosphere which promotes growth of industry and businesses, rather than communal tensions over perennially vexed issues such as the Ram Mandir.

Here’s what the manifesto says: “We reiterate our stand on Ram Mandir. We will explore all possibilities within the framework of the Constitution and all necessary efforts to facilitate the expeditious construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.”

Women

The BJP has made some very significant promises with regard to women.

The party has vowed to work towards introducing 33% reservation in Parliament and state assemblies through a constitutional amendment. 

The promise, however, needs to be taken with a pinch of salt as the party has not provided tickets to 33% women — something the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has succeeded in doing.

The Trinamool Congress has fielded 40% women candidates on 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal.

In contrast, the BJP’s very own Shaina NC recently called out all parties, including the BJP, for not fielding enough women candidates.

After being denied a ticket, Shaina had commented: “It requires political will, respect for women, belief in women as a votebank…not just lip service to our cause, manifesto after manifesto…there is a male chauvinistic mindset in political parties, so whenever a woman’s name comes up as a candidate, there are questions about winnability, about funding, unless it is somebody’s daughter, somebody’s daughter-in-law.”

One significant promise made by the BJP for women is providing sanitary napkins at Rs 1.

The party has also reiterated its resolve to outlaw Triple Talaq. And the BJP has acknowledged that Article 35A is discriminatory towards the women of J&K.

Will the promises hold with the electorate now?

We will know when the last vote is counted on May 23.

Last updated: April 08, 2019 | 14:51
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