If anyone thought, the BJP would go for the kill, it didn’t. Beyond the huge Union Budget promises to farmers and the unorganised labour by way of pensions, no big surprises were in store as the saffron manifesto was released Monday. It, though, has promised to extend the pension scheme to retail shopkeepers, the large army of them across India. If the BJP returns to power, shopkeepers above age 60 can hopefully get pension and be on par with several other segments the BJP has already wooed with doles. But, if by chance the Congress comes to power too, all these segments can have attractive monthly support in the name of the minimum income guarantee scheme as promised by the tricolour party manifesto.
Notably, the BJP manifesto lays stress on a national level piped drinking water scheme. The promise is to extend it’s connection speedily to all families — meaning even in the remotest village. This comes over and above the promise by BJP and Modi to reach electricity to all villages. The work had been taken up with all seriousness in the last five years. The piped water scheme must be seen as the logical next step.
The manifesto also reiterates the BJP’s commitment to follow up on the national citizenship registry by way of effective implementation in the North East and it’s extension to other parts of the country.
Another offer in the manifesto is to follow up on the promise of 33 per cent reservations for women in representative bodies like Parliament and state assemblies.
Election manifestoes are not the last word, though. Promises were often broken than implemented. Yet, there is reason to cheer, as rival political parties are falling over heels to care for the so far uncared multitudes. Hopefully, the same enthusiasm will prevail after the polling day too.
What could be the proverbial red rag for the citizens of North East India is the BJP’s iteration that it would implement the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) if it returns to power. The CAB had already seen a lot of protests after it was passed in the Lok Sabha. The Congress has promised to scrap this contentious bill. The people of this region are now divided on this Bill. There is a large section which believes that their Hindu kin in Bangladesh must be able to settle in India , a country where Hindus are in the majority. The tribes on the other hand fear the prospect of being overwhelmed by immigrants. It is in this climate of fear and suspicion that the region goes to vote for the first phase on April 11.
