Quota, Hindutva feature in BJP's UP manifesto

Days ahead of the Uttar Pradesh assembly election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday released its election manifesto for the state in Lucknow. The manifesto was released by the party’s campaign manager in the state, Uma Bharti, in the presence of party vice-president Kalraj Mishra, state president Surya Pratap Shahi and ideologue Sudheendra Kulkarni.

Speaking at the release, Kulkarni said, “This is not just a manifesto but a vow of promise.”

The party says that that if voted to power it will remove the 4.5 percent quota reserved for minorities within the 27 percent quota reserved for OBCs, as promised by Union Minister Salman Khurshid.

Keeping its Hindutva agenda in view, the manifesto promises the completion of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

“Ram Mandir issue belongs to crores of Hindus. We cannot leave this issue although development is our priority,” Kulkarni said.

The manifesto also promises the creation of nearly five lakh jobs in the state, and promises tablets for high school students and laptops for class XII students.

The manifesto focuses on education, health, employment and law and order.

The manifesto promises 24-hour power supply to farmers in the state and a cow for every BPL (below poverty line) family in the state if BJP comes to power.

“We will make Uttar Pradesh the best state in the country,” said Kulkarni. “BJP will have a strong Lokayukta. The Chief Minister will come under the purview of the Lokayukta which will be given a prosecution wing,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Congress party is also expected to release its manifesto later in the day.

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