In an apparent play of words, an upbeat Bharatiya Janta Party in Haryana on Sunday released what it called a ‘Sankalp Patra’, instead of a ‘Ghoshna Patra’ (poll manifesto), a week before the state goes to the polls in the state.
In the document titled “Mhara Sapnon Ka Haryana 2019-2024”, the party pledged to carry forward Chief Minister Manohar Lal’s “remarkable achievement” of steering the state away from the infamous politics of “parivarvaad, jaatiwaad aur brastachaar” towards “clean and non discriminatory politics of inclusive development for all sections and all regions of the state” as endorsed by the party’s National Working President JP Nadda.
Photos By : Life In Chandigarh
Without an iota of an apology for keeping the media persons, gathered in the central ballroom of hotel The Lalit in Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park for well over an hour, during which the “compromised media” remained mute spectators, Nadda and Chief Minister Manohar Lal boasted that the people of the state for the first time ever had made up their mind six months in advance to retu the BJP to power.
Advertisement
Rubbishing the main rival party, the Congress’ announcement in its election manifesto of waiving off farm loans in the state, the BJP leaders maintained that the people of the country had seen through these gimmicks of the grand old party which it had already failed to deliver, as promised, in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The BJP’s pledge document on the other hand was promising only whatever was practical and implementable keeping in mind the financial capacity of the state, they added.
The Chief Minister also blasted the Congress for promising to withdraw the imposition of minimum educational qualifications for contesting panchayati raj elections in the state, saying instead of promising to take the state forward the Congress was bent upon derailing its progressive policies initiated in the last few years.
Under the head ‘Kamau Aur Tikau Kheti’, the party, apart from reiterating its commitment to existing central and state government concessions and schemes for farmers and doubling their incomes by 2022, has also promised that provisions will be incorporated in relevant laws to ensure that farmers seeking crop loans do not have to mortgage their land to the extent of more than 125 % of the amount of loan sought.
Efforts will be made to resolve the SYL canal issue with Punjab at the earliest and the state government will pursue with implementing agencies for early execution of the Lakhwar, Renuka and Kishau dam projects in which Haryana has a lion’s share of water.
Haryana BJP has also committed itself to creating a new ministry for youth development and self employment. A Startup Mission will be launched for strengthening the startup ecosystem in the state with the establishment of four Entrepreneurship Hubs. With an investment of Rs 500 crores, more than 25,00,000 youth will be provided skill training. Students will be provided guarantee free loan for higher and professional studies.
Reiterating its commitment to continue to invest heavily in promoting sports and fitness activities down to the village level, the state party has undertaken to open 1,000 sports nurseries.
In the sphere of women and child welfare, a commitment has been given to make the women and children anaemia free. Stores will also be opened across the state for marketing the products of all women’s self help groups (SHGs).
In another new, an Antodya Ministry will be created to ensure that the economically weaker sections of society are able to effectively avail of various central and state government schemes targeted at them. Skilled workmen and artisans will be provided guarantee free loan of up to Rs 3 lakhs.
For the elderly, the state party has promised to concert all Old Age Homes into well-equipped Mode Senior Citizen Community Centres. Every district will have at least one such community centre. Day care centres will also be opened for them in all places with a population exceeding 10,000.
For citizens with special needs, a scheme will be launched for their skill development to make them self reliant. Facility of guarantee-free soft loan of up to Rs 3 lakh will be extended to them to start their own business.
Opening of 2,000 wellness centres is among the dozens of other pledges made by the ruling party in the state in its ‘Sankalp Patra’.
Among others present on the occasion were party general secretary in charge for Haryana affairs Anil Jain, state party chief Subhash Barala, Union Minister and party in charge of the election campaign in the state Narendra Singh Tomar, Union minister Rao Inderjit Singh, Haryana minister and chairman of the manifesto committee OP Dhankar, Haryana minister Anil Vij and Ambala MP Rattan Lal Kataria.