BJP promises temple, Congress jobs, quota

BJP today revived the Ayodhya issue promising to build a Ram temple, a cow for every poor family in UP, cheap laptops and tablets, 5 lakh jobs, a spiritual Disneyland in Mathura-Vrindavan and a very strong Lokayukta, the Congress meanwhile came out with plans to create 20 lakh jobs for unemployed youth in their manifestos for the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh where both the parties are trailing major players BSP and SP. BJP, which has been struggling hard to regain its preeminent position in the state, brought back the Ayodhya issue which had once propelled the party to the centre stage of national politics in the late 80s and through the nineties. “Construction of a grand temple is associated with the faith of crores of people of the country.  Ram is the symbol of prestige, pride and dignity of the country. [caption id=“attachment_196058” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“PTI”]  [/caption] “Unfortunately due to pseudo-secularism and vote bank politics it is being opposed. BJP is committed to removing all the hurdles in the path of construction of Ram temple,” said the manifesto, released by a battery of leaders including Uma Bharati, the hindutva mascot. The party also opposed religion-based reservation and attacked the Congress for the Centre’s decision to carve out a 4.5 per cent sub-quota for Muslims from the 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in jobs. On the other hand, the Congress party brought out a “Vision Document 2020” for Uttar Pradesh, where it has been out of power for over two decades, by promising to set up 1000 skill centres and create two lakh jobs. The document was released in 10 different cities by a host of leaders.  Union Minister Salman Khurshid and UPCC President Rita Bahuguna released the document here which promised to provide sub-quota for most backward classes and eliminate corruption. The ‘Vision Document 2020’  lays out the road map for all round development by bringing in key changes in sectors like education, employment and economy. “The Congress-led UPA government has already approved 4.5 per cent reservation for the socially and economically backward Muslims under the OBC category across the country in central government jobs, PSUs and educational institutions and we will ensure its full and timely implementation,” it said. Against the backdrop of the controversial acquisition of farmers’ land in Noida by the BSP government, the Congress promised a new law that is fair and beneficial to the poor, the landless and farmers while providing adequate land for industrialisation and urbanisation. “We will remedy the shameful treatment that has been given to farmers and landless by the BSP, SP and BJP governments by fast tracking outstanding cases related to land,” it promised. The party envisaged setting up an anti-corruption cell in the chief minister’s office, making Lokayukta independent, bringing the chief minister in its purview and aiming at a sub-quota for most backward classes in the existing 27 per cent OBC quota. On the sub-quota for backward Muslims, the BJP leaders said “The UPA government decision is motivated by vote bank politics and when BJP comes to power 4.5 per cent reservation for minorities would be scrapped and 27 per cent quota of the OBCs will be restored.” For welfare and development of economically weaker sections among upper caste, the party announced constitution of a  Commission. “This commission will be constituted for 50 per cent people of the classes for whom there is no no reservation and who are socio-economically backward. Arrangement of necessary reservation for them will be made,” Shahi said. PTI Watch Video