BJP Manifesto: National Security, Ram Mandir, Sabarimala And Other Key Highlights

The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday released its 45-page manifesto named 'Sankalp Patra' for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with less than 72 hours for the first phase of voting set to begin.

The manifesto encompasses a range of issues ranging from a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism to promising to make India the third largest economy of the world by 2030. Other keenly watched issues such as the Ram temple and Sabarimala also find mention.

BOOM takes a look at six major promises the party has proposed to implement if voted back to power.

1) 'Nation First' - From Citizenship Amendment Bill to annulling Article 370 & NRC

The issue of national security finds prominence in the manifesto with the mention of surgical strike in 2016 and recent airstrike. The BJP has promised to continue their approach of 'zero tolerance' against terrorism and extremism.

The party has committed to the Citizenship Amendment Bill and annulling Article 35A which gives special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. BJP claims Article 35A is discriminatory against non-permanent residents and women of Jammu and Kashmir.

The party has also promised to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in a phased manner in other parts of the country to combat infiltration.

2) Doubling farmers income

The party has promised to double farmers income by 2022. It had made the same promise in 2016.

It has also promised to provide short-term new agriculture loans up to Rs. 1 lakh at a 0% interest rate for 1-5 years on the condition of prompt repayment of the principal amount. A pension scheme for farmers has also been promised. The manifesto promises to expand the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana all farmers.

3) $5 trillion economy by 2030

The BJP has laid out a road map which proposes to make India the world's third largest economy by 2030. The party said it had committed to make India a $5 trillion economy by 2025 and $10 trillion economy by 2032.
Other economic policy proposals include lowering the tax rate, of GST and by 2024 make investment of Rs 100 lakh crores in the sector.

4) Ram temple

Ram Mandir is mentioned under the sub head of cultural heritage. The party reiterated its stand on the Ram temple issue and said it would explore all possibilities within the framework of the Constitution and all necessary efforts to facilitate the expeditious construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.

Sabarimala

The issue of makes an into the party's manifesto with a promise to ensure that "the subject of faith, tradition and worship rituals related to Sabarimala are presented in a comprehensive manner before the Honorable Supreme Court."

5) Pucca houses for families without access to housing by 2022

The party promised to ensure pucca houses for families either living in houses or without access to housing by 2022 and also promised to bring down the percentage of families living below the poverty line to single digits in the next five years.

This is on the lines of Housing for All by 2022 Mission – National Mission for Urban Housing launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015.

The party has also promised employment opportunities and suitable urban infrastructure for a better quality life.

6) Creating employment opportunities for youth

The party has promised new employment opportunities for the youth under the section - 'Yuva Bharat - Tomorrow's India', by providing more 'champion sectors' identified as the main drivers of the Indian economy.

"We will optimally leverage the untapped employment-generation of of sectors such as and pharmaceuticals to take advantage of the opportunities available in domestic and foreign markets," says the party.

Under the sub-section 'Entrepreneurship & StartUps', the party has also promised to create a 'Seed Startup Fund' of ₹20,000 crore to promote and encourage Startups.

Click here to read the complete manifesto.