Bengaluru: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has promised to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and National Citizens Register (NRC) in Karnataka if voted to power in the state. The party has also promised to create a special wing to tackle radicalisation — the Karnataka-State Wing Against Religious Fundamentalism and Terror (K-SWIFT).
“We will implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Karnataka based on the recommendations given by a high-level committee which will be constituted for the purpose,” read the manifesto, released in Bengaluru Monday by party president J.P. Nadda.
The inclusion of these issues in its manifesto hint at the BJP’s plan to tap into Hindutva sentiments despite the fact that the party has chosen to downplay contentious issues like Hijab, Halal and Tipu Sultan in its poll campaign. In the months leading up to the election, Karnataka witnessed protests against the use of Hijab by girl students, besides calls for a ban on the sale of Halal meat and the use of loudspeakers for Azaan. These were followed by instances of Muslim vendors being harassed for taking part in temple fairs and the state government’s decision to scrap the 4 per cent OBC quota reserved for Muslims.
In its manifesto, the BJP has also promised to set up an ‘Atal Ahara Kendra’ in every ward of every municipal corporation in the state to provide healthy food at affordable prices.
It has also vowed to provide half a litre Nandini milk each day to BPL (below poverty line) households under a new ‘Poshana’ scheme. Moreover, the manifesto says that if voted to power in the state, the BJP will provide three cooking gas cylinders free of cost to BPL families annually — one each during the months of Yugadi, Ganesh Chaturthi and Diwali.
“We will strengthen the public healthcare infrastructure in the state through ‘Mission Swasthya Karnataka’ by establishing one Namma clinic, equipped with diagnostic facilities, in every ward of municipal corporations. Additionally, we will also provide a free annual master health check-up for senior citizens,” read the manifesto.
While unveiling the manifesto in Bengaluru, party chief Nadda said that the BJP’s ‘Praja Pranalike’ (people’s manifesto) was drafted not in the comfort of air-conditioned rooms but with an idea of “justice for all and appeasement to none”.
“In 2019, the people of Karnataka gave a clear and decisive mandate for the Bharatiya Janata Party. On forming the Government, the Double Engine BJP Sarkara quickly set to work focusing its efforts on 3 E’s – Economy, Equal Opportunity and Empowerment,” the BJP said in a statement accompanying the manifesto.
The BJP has also made an elaborate list of promises for Bengaluru, the growth engine of the state which is home to 13 million residents who continue to reel under crumbling infrastructure and unending traffic snarls.
“We will develop Bengaluru for the next generation by designating it as ‘State Capital Region’, and executing a comprehensive, technology-led city development program – centred around Ease of Life, cohesive transportation networks and enabling ecosystems for making Bengaluru a Global Hub of Digital Innovation,” read the BJP’s manifesto.
Karnataka will go to the polls on May 10 followed by the counting of votes on May 13.
The Opposition Congress mocked the BJP even before the release of its manifesto, demanding to know the Basavaraj Bommai-led government’s record before it makes more promises.
The Karnataka BJP “should release their report card before their new manifesto”, former chief minister Siddaramaiah wrote on Twitter Monday. “BJP leaders have no regards for the promises they make. They have not fulfilled more than 90 per cent of their promises made in the previous elections,” he alleged.
Although the Congress is yet to put out its vision documents, the party has already announced five schemes it promises to implement if voted to power. These include free travel for women in public transport buses, 200 units of free power to all households and 10 kg of free rice to every member of a BPL family.
Meanwhile, the Janata Dal (Secular) in its manifesto released last week promised to restore 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in state government jobs and free higher education for students from economically weaker sections.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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