SHILLONG, Feb 15: BJP has promised to establish a Special Task Force under a retired Supreme Court Judge to investigate all cases of corruption in state government.
The party made the promise in its Vision Document 2023 released by BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda in Shillong on Wednesday, a day after he had remarked at an election rally that corruption had retarded Meghalaya’s progress.
Sharing the salient features of the manifesto, Nadda promised to set up an anti-corruption helpline including a WhatsApp-based complaint mechanism under the CM’s direct command to provide a quick and efficient grievance redressal mechanism.
Congress had earlier promised a corruption-free government unlike that of the MDA which came under the scanner for alleged scams and irregularities. The BJP is a constituent of the MDA.
The BJP promised to constitute a task force to check illegal mining in the state. “Additionally, we will ensure the scientific mining of coal,” Nadda said.
Quoting the manifesto, he said that the party will collaborate with the central government to solve the Meghalaya-Assam border issue and will establish permanent outposts to promote safety, security, and rule of law.
The party also promised to implement the 7th Pay Commission in Meghalaya for all government employees if it forms the government after the results are declared on March 2.
The BJP also promised to launch the Meghalaya White Revolution Project with a fund of Rs 250 crore to make the state self-reliant in milk products by 2026.
In addition, the BJP president promised to introduce the Ka Phan Nonglait scheme providing a bond of Rs 50,000 on the birth of a girl child while promising to provide free-of-cost, quality education to all female students from KG to PG.
The party promised free scooties to all meritorious college-going female students from financially weak households, besides providing 33% reservation for women in all government jobs with a special focus on the police force.
The BJP underlined a plan to establish the Phan Nonglait Battalion, the state’s first all-women police battalion.
The party also promised to double the per-family annual insurance cap from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh under Ayushman Bharat besides initiating the Meghalaya Health Infrastructure Mission with an investment of Rs 2,500 crore for the development of a medical college each in the two parliamentary seats in the state.
Vision document silent on ILP demand
The BJP said the issue of implementing the inner-line permit (ILP) in Meghalaya will be discussed and deliberated post-elections.
Reacting to a query about the vision document remaining silent on implementing ILP in the state, BJP national general secretary Rituraj Sinha said the issue has to be addressed with all stakeholders.
“We believe there is a genuine reason that people in the state are arguing for ILP. We also believe that the development of Meghalaya has to be led by tourism and for tourism, a lot of people argue that ILP is restrictive, which could result in significant opportunity lost in the tourism sector,” he said.
“The matter needs to be deliberated upon and the party would definitely discuss with stakeholders and post-election, we will take a final decision,” he said.
Earlier, Sinha said voting for Congress in Meghalaya will be a waste as the party will not be a part of the government. Nobody wants MLAs who will be in the opposition for the next five years, he added.
The BJP also defended its decision of projecting “Modi for Meghalaya”, saying capable leaders of the party would lead the state under the aegis and guidance of the Prime Minister.
