Military Theatre Commands, robust border infra promised
*Modi seeks another term to shape India’s destiny
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 14: The BJP Election Manifesto released today by Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the party remained committed to keep the country and its citizens safe as it referred to surgical and air strikes against Pakistan as examples of dedicated efforts towards countering terrorism. It promised establishment of Military Theatre Commands for more efficient operations.
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“In the past 10 years, we have taken a firm stand on protecting our country and citizens from the threats of terrorism and naxalism. We have followed a zero tolerance policy on terrorism. We remain committed to keep our country and citizens safe,” the BJP manifesto named ‘Sankalp Patra’ released by Modi in New Delhi said.
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BJP president JP Nadda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and senior Ministers and BJP leaders were present at the release of election manifesto.
“The surgical strikes of 2016 and air strikes of 2019 are examples of our dedicated efforts towards countering terrorism. We are committed to defend Bharat’s citizens and interests at home and abroad from all threats of terrorism,” the manifesto read.
Referring to the establishment of the position of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) for better coordination in the military, the election document said the BJP will further establish the Military Theatre Commands for more efficient operations.
Asserting that gross neglect by previous Governments resulted in poor infrastructure in border areas, the manifesto read: “We have corrected this grave error and started constructing roads, railway, telecom towers, optical fibre cables and electricity networks. We will accelerate development of robust infrastructure along the Indo-China, Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Myanmar borders. We will introduce technological solutions on fenced portions to make fencing smarter”.
In a separate chapter in the election manifesto titled ‘Surakshit Bharat’, the BJP referred to zero major terror attacks in any City since 2014, revocation of Article 370 leading to a significant reduction in violence in Jammu and Kashmir and enactment of ‘Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita’ which focuses on justice instead of punishments.”.
The BJP manifesto said it will continue efforts to create a consensus among all members of the United Nations on the Comprehensive Convention against International Terrorism and other such efforts to combat terrorism. It added that the party will build upon the success of `No Money for Terror’ conference to develop better coordination on countering terrorism finance.
The party promised to regulate and monitor Bharat’s cyber protection agencies and infrastructure besides development and implementation of robust cyber security policies.
It also expressed commitment towards eliminating the threat of drugs in the society, especially the young citizens, through a series of technical, legal and intelligence programmes and said the BJP will work on enforcement and reducing demand for drugs.
“We will leverage Big Data analytics, Artificial Intelligence, drones and satellite imagery to detect and dismantle drug trafficking networks effectively, the manifesto said.
The manifesto promised to consolidate the country’s position as a voice of the Global South and its commitment to seeking permanent membership in the UN Security Council to “elevate Bharat’s position in global decision-making.”
While releasing the election manifesto, Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined his vision for ‘Viksit Bharat’ as he exhorted people to give another mandate to his party to shape India’s ‘destiny’ for the next 1,000 years.
Describing the party’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ as a document of his guarantee, Modi highlighted the achievements of 10 years of his Government at the Centre and said the BJP has delivered on every promise it made so far.
“In the last 10 years, the BJP has implemented every aspect of its manifesto as a guarantee. The BJP has restored the sanctity of the manifesto,” Modi said.
“This ‘Sankalp Patra’ strengthens the four strong pillars of a ‘Viksit Bharat’: ‘Yuva Shakti’, ‘Nari Shakti’, poor and farmers,” he said.
The manifesto talks about implementing the ‘One Nation, One Poll’ initiative, preparing common electoral rolls, abolishing waiting lists for train travel, expansion of 5G networks and organising Ramayan festivals world over, among others.
Modi said the BJP steadfastly takes bold and challenging decisions in the nation’s interest, prioritising the country over the party itself.
“Nari Shakti Bill has become an Act. The BJP abrogated Article 370 and we brought CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act),” he said.
The BJP also expressed its commitment to a “holistic” development of Ayodhya and promised to launch a global outreach programme for promoting the legacy of Lord Ram.
The party also promised that it will celebrate ‘Ramayan Utsav’ across the globe to commemorate the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Ram Lalla at the recently built temple in Ayodhya if it retains power.
“As millions of devotees from around the world visit Shri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, we are committed to the holistic development of the city,” the BJP stated in its ‘Sankalp Patra
“Bless us, give us more strength for the welfare of crores of citizens of Maa Bharati, to realise the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’, to implement this ‘Sankalp Patra’ at faster pace,” Modi said, adding that in times of prevailing unrest in different parts of the world, the necessity for a stable Government with an unequivocal majority in India becomes even more pronounced.
Modi said that his Government has already started working on a 100-day action plan and it will work on fulfilling the promises made in the BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ at a faster pace if voted to power.
Modi said the BJP Government has taken tough action against corruption and would continue to do so if voted to power again.
“Corruption deprives poor and middle-class families of their rights. Scams worth thousands of crores (of rupees) at the national level have been effectively checked. The underprivileged are now receiving their entitlements while those who looted them are going to jail. Strict action against the corrupt will continue. It’s Modi’s guarantee,” he said.
Highlights
* Free ration for the poor for the next five years under the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.
* The party will continue to provide free and quality healthcare services of up to Rs 5 lakh to poor families under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
* Free electricity to poor households under the Prime Minister Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
* Efforts to empower three crore rural women to become “Lakhpati Didis”.
* Integration of women self-help groups (SHGs) with the service sector, enhancing market access for women SHG enterprises:
* Ensuring development of infrastructure, such as working women’s hostels and creches, with a specific focus on locations near industrial and commercial centres to facilitate increased participation of women in the workforce.
* Expansion of the existing health services, focusing on prevention and reduction of anaemia, breast cancer, cervical cancer and osteoporosis, ensuring a healthy life for women.
* Launching a focused initiative to eliminate cervical cancer.
* Implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam to ensure representation of women in Parliament and the state legislatures.
* A transparent government recruitment system.
* Implementation of a law to prevent paper leaks.
* Expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana to cover senior citizens and provide them access to free and quality healthcare. Delivery of government services at doorsteps to ensure seamless access to social security benefits and other essential government services for senior citizens by leveraging the extensive reach and reliability of the postal and digital network.
* Strengthening the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme to provide sustained financial support to farmers.
* Strengthening the Prime Minister Fasal Bima Yojana through more technological interventions to ensure speedy and more accurate assessment, faster payouts and quicker grievance resolution.
* Increasing the minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
* Launching the Krishi Infrastructure Mission for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of agri-infrastructure projects like storage facilities, irrigation, grading and sorting units, cold-storage facilities and food processing.
* Expansion of irrigation facilities, launching technology-enabled irrigation initiatives to implement cutting-edge technology for efficient water management.
* Launching an indigenous “Bharat Krishi” satellite for farm-related activities like crop forecasting, pesticide application, irrigation, soil health and weather forecasting.
* A periodic review of the national floor-level minimum wages.
* Inclusion of autorickshaw, taxi, truck drivers and other drivers in all social security schemes.
* Empowerment of small traders and MSMEs through the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to help them expand their businesses using technology.
* A focused approach for tribal healthcare, measures to eliminate malnutrition among tribal children and providing comprehensive healthcare services in tribal areas on a mission mode.
* Measures to eliminate sickle-cell anaemia.
* “Modi ki Guarantee” for a secure and prosperous Bharat.
* Robust infrastructure along the borders, technological solutions on the fenced portions to make fencing smarter.
* Implementing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).
* Making India the third-largest economy in the world.
* Expansion of employment opportunities.
* Measures to make India a global manufacturing hub in various sectors, including electronics, by 2030.
* “Modi Ki Guarantee” on good governance.
* Bringing a Uniform Civil Code.
* Making “One Nation, One Election” a reality.
* Quality education, establishing new institutions of higher learning.
* Balanced regional development, maintaining peace in the northeast.
* Resolution of inter-state border disputes among the northeastern states through sustained efforts.
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