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New Delhi: Dealing with the issue of jobs in abstractions, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday released its 2019 election manifesto, titled ‘Sankalpit Bharat- Sashakt Bharat (Determined India – Empowered India)’, declaring “nationalism” to be the party’s “inspiration.”
In tandem with the party’s aggressive ongoing poll campaign, focusing on nationalism and national security, the manifesto at the very outset stated: “We had a zero tolerance policy towards terrorism. It will continue till terror is completely eliminated. Security forces will be given a free hand to tackle the terrorists.”
Soon after the manifesto was launched at the BJP headquarters, finance minister Arun Jaitley said the document has been prepared with a “nationalist,” and not “tukde-tukde or Ivy League” vision. He was referring to slogans allegedly raised at a rally in Jawaharlal Nehru University on February 9, 2016, as well as gesturing towards Congress leader Sam Pitroda, recently targeted by the BJP for raising questions about the government’s multiple claims on Balakot airstrike casualty numbers.
Manifesto adds fresh fodder to Article 35A controversy
Invoking Article 35A in Jammu and Kashmir, the manifesto described the provision as an “obstacle in the development of the state”. The article, granting special status to the state, has recently been in the eye of a storm in the state, witnessing an escalation in violence.
Hitting back at the BJP, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, said any move to repeal the state’s special status would result in serious repercussions. “So my warning to the BJP is to stop playing with fire. Jammu and Kashmir is already sitting on a powder keg,” said Mufti.
Congress asks why no mention of jobs in manifesto
Joining issue with the BJP, Randeep Surjewala of the opposition Congress, at a counter press conference, said: “The country remembers what the BJP promised – Rs 15 lakh to every citizen, employment to over two crore people, doubling of the farmers’ income and women’s security. The BJP government has failed on all these promises.”
Also read: The BJP Manifesto Cannot Hide the Party’s Agenda of Intolerance and Bigotry
In 2013, then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi at an election rally said, “If BJP comes to power, it will provide one crore jobs which the UPA government could not do despite announcing it before the last Lok Sabha polls.”
Though the BJP, in its new manifesto, has repeated its assurance to farmers, promising to double farm income by 2020, the party has kept away from making any concrete promises on jobs.
BJP manifesto keeps core agenda intact
True to expectation, the BJP in the latest manifesto, has reiterated its intention to act on its core political and ideological agenda on the three most controversial issues: build a Ram temple, implement Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and pass the Citizenship Amendment Bill, which recently plunged the northeastern states into chaos and violence.
Supreme Court VVPAT decision a boost for opposition
Supreme Court on Monday asked the Election Commission to scale up random checking of VVPAT slips from one to five assembly segments. Such a move, the apex court believed, would increase voter confidence and credibility of the election process.
As is the current practice, the process of matching VVPAT slips with EVM count in one polling station takes an hour, approximately. The VVPAT counting can begin only after EVM votes in those particular polling stations have been tabulated. Monday’s Supreme Court directive, therefore, will mean a five-hour overall delay.
Also read: PM Scheme for Malnourished Mothers Spent 4x More on Administrative Expenses
Twenty-one opposition parties had urged the court to direct that VVPAT slips generated by 50% of EVMs should be matched. The Election Commission opposed the suggestion arguing that it would delay results by six days.
EC probes Mayawati’s Saharanpur speech
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati has run into trouble for her speech at Deoband this Sunday, urging Muslims to vote for SP-BSP alliance and not the Congress, which, the former UP chief minister asserted, was not in a position to defeat the BJP,
During the joint rally with alliance partners, Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Lok Dal, Mayawati appealed to the minority community, saying, “In western UP, where people of all communities live…in Saharanpur, Bareilly, where there is a huge Muslim population…I want to tell the Muslim community…don’t divide your votes…give it to the BSP, SP and RLD alliance,” she said.
Chief electoral officer Lalkku Venkateshwarlu has sought a report from the administration to probe a violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
Meanwhile, Congress last Friday petitioned the Election Commission against the prime minister’s speech at a rally in Wardha, alleging his comments were “hateful and divisive.” EC has sought a transcript of the prime minister’s speech.
“How can the Congress be forgiven for insulting the Hindus in front of the world? Weren’t you hurt when you heard the word ‘Hindu terror’?” Referring to Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s decision to contest from Wayanad which has large sections of minority community voters, Modi said, “Hindu community is aware now. It is evident from the fact that one has to contest a seat where the minority is majority”.
