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BJP's UP agenda: Ram Mandir YES, Muslim quota NO
Promising sops for every section of society in its manifesto for Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday opposed 4.5 per cent reservation to minorities from the 27 per cent quota of backward classes even as it said it was committed to the construction of a Ram Temple at Ayodhya.
The manifesto was released by senior leaders, including Uma Bharati, Surya Pratap Shahi, Kalraj Mishra, Mukhtar Abas Naqvi, Narendra Singh Tomar and Suddhendra Kulkarni at the party office in Lucknow.
On questions regarding a Ram temple at Ayodhya, state president Shahi said that the party was of the opinion that Hinduism was the life substance of the country, but due to vote bank politics it was being attacked by parties, including Congress, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Left.
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BJP's UP agenda: Ram Mandir YES, Muslim quota NO
"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. Unfortunately due to psuedo secularism and vote bank politics it is being opposed. BJP is committed to remove all hurdles in the path of construction of Ram temple," he said.
Releasing the manifesto, BJP legislative party leader Om Prakash Singh said that the party was opposed to religion-based reservation.
"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," he said.
In fact for welfare and development of economically weaker sections among upper caste, the party announced to constitute a Samanya Nirdhan Varg Kalyan Ayog.
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BJP's UP agenda: Ram Mandir YES, Muslim quota NO
"This commission will be constituted for 50 per cent people of unreserved class, who are socio-economically backward. Arrangement of necessary reservation for them will be made," Shahi said.
The party said that it was committed to good governance and clean politics.
Offering sops to farmers, the party promised to provide loans at an interest rate of one per cent, besides constitution of a Krishak Kalyan Ayog to redress their problems and a corpus of Rs 1,000 crore Kisan Kalyan Kosh.
"There will be a separate budget for the agriculture sector and a new policy will be chalked out," Om Prakash Singh said.
Besides the party announced to give 24,000 annual pension to small and marginal farmers, farm labourers, weavers and workers above 65 years of age.
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BJP's UP agenda: Ram Mandir YES, Muslim quota NO
In a major sop the party announced to fix state advisory price of sugarcane at Rs 300 per quintal in the next crushing season.
The party has promised one cow free to every family living below the poverty line and complete ban on slaughter of cows in the state.
In a bid to woo youths, BJP has promised to create one crore jobs in five years, besides loan of upto Rs 1 lakh on easy interest rate under Yuva Berozgar Credit Card, unemployment allowance of Rs 2,000 per month.
On the lines of Samajwadi Party, the BJP too has announced to give tablet computers for Rs 1000 to secondary and intermediate students and laptop for Rs 5,000 to intermediate students.
"Tablets and laptops will be given free of cost to poor students. Free cycles will also be given to girl of all sections," Singh said.
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BJP's UP agenda: Ram Mandir YES, Muslim quota NO
While promising to constitute an Education Commission the party said that textbooks, school uniforms and bags would be given to poor students upto intermediate.
The party also promised to regularise around 1.5 lakh shiksha mitras, filling vacant post of teachers providing employment to two lakh youth and education loan to students at an interest rate of one per cent to pursue higher education.
On the state Lokayukta, the party said, the institution would be made more effective. Lokayukta would be authorised to conduct an inquiry against the chief minister and its recommendations would be binding for the government.
"The party will take strong measures to check activities of ISI, Huji and SIMI and unlike SP and BSP regimes there will be no interference in the working of police and security forces," Om Prakash Singh said.
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BJP's UP agenda: Ram Mandir YES, Muslim quota NO
Accusing the BSP government and UP CM of indulging in loot, the party said that a commission would be set up for thorough inquiry into all cases of corruption and scams, and property of those found guilty would be seized.
"On the principle of justice and security to all, but appeasement of none, BJP will make concrete and honest effort for economic, social and educational progress of Muslims," BJP said on minority welfare in its 72-page manifesto.
Promising to set up super specialised hospitals like AIIMS in Delhi, BJP announced free treatment of serious ailments to poor at district level and free medical card.
For empowerment of women, the party has promised 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha and government jobs, besides 50 per cent quota in local bodies and panchayat elections.
It said Rani Laxmibai battalions would be raised in police and PAC in which only women would be recruited.
On price control and food security front the party said that 35 kg wheat at the rate of Rs 2 per kg and free food grain would be given to elderly and shelter less above 65 years of age.
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