Delhi polls
New Delhi, Jan 25: With less than two weeks left for the Delhi Assembly polls, the BJP on Saturday promised to clean Yamuna within three years, provide complete ownership rights in 1,700 unauthorised colonies, Rs 10 lakh life insurance for gig workers, lawyers and labourers, 50,000 government jobs for the youth and free metro travel worth Rs 4,000 annually for needy students.
Releasing the final part of the party’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ (election manifesto), senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal of “lying” and not fulfilling his promises and asserted that “getting rid of liars and betrayers” is the biggest poll issue in Delhi.
Shah said that after coming to power, the BJP will develop a grand ‘Mahabharat’ corridor to promote and publicise the famous mythological epic of the ‘Mahabharata’, in partnership with the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
Besides, the party pledged to create an integrated public transport network with an investment of Rs 20,000 crore, convert Delhi into a 100 per cent e-bus city with 13,000 electric buses, adding that the party will also ensure completion of Delhi Metro Phase IV at the earliest and make metro and buses available 24×7.
He said that with a dedicated fund, the Yamuna will be cleaned in three years and with the Centre’s assistance, a Yamuna riverfront will be developed on the line of the Sabarmati riverfront.
Further, the Union minister took a dig at Kejriwal, saying the people of Delhi are waiting for his “world-famous” dip in the Yamuna, which he had promised and assured that the river would be cleaned in seven years.
He also suggested that Kejriwal take a dip in the Ganga at Prayagraj, where Maha Kumbh is currently underway.
Hitting back, the Aam Aadmi Party dubbed BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ as a “Jumla Patra” copying its schemes, and claimed that the party seems to have conceded defeat in the upcoming Assembly polls.
Delhi will go to polls on February 5 and the results will be announced on February 8.
Launching the third part of the party’s manifesto at a press conference, Shah said that people living in 1,700 unauthorised colonies will get full ownership rights of properties, which will pave the way for sale, purchase and construction.
In these colonies, no one had the permission to build, buy or sell his property, he said, adding that now by giving them the complete ownership rights, the BJP will give them the right to construct in accordance with the rules of the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry and the by-laws of Delhi, demolish the entire house and build a new one and sell it.
As per an estimate, 30 per cent of Delhi population lives in these colonies and they play a significant role in deciding the fate of any political party in elections.
The BJP manifesto, which was launched in three parts, does not mention separate schemes on free electricity and water. Shah also reiterated that no welfare schemes for the poor will be stopped in Delhi and the BJP will fulfil all its promises and asked AAP leaders to stop spreading “rumours” through Whatsapp messages and calls.
The Union home minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has established the politics of performance.
He promised various new schemes and welfare measures for gig, textile and construction workers. The BJP will form a welfare board for them and provide Rs 10 lakh insurance and Rs 5 lakh accident cover, he said. (PTI)