Uniform Civil Code among 16 promises in BJP Karnataka manifesto, also to introduce NRC

A plethora of promises were made in the BJP Karnataka manifesto, which was issued on Monday, including the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code and the National Register of Citizens, as well as the provision of three free cooking gas cylinders to BPL households each year.

The party has increased its preparations for the state’s May 10 elections, with key officials conducting public gatherings and roadshows. In its “Praja Pranalike” 2023 manifesto, the ruling party made 16 major pledges.

The party has promised to provide three free petrol cylinders to all BPL families each year, one during Yugadi, Ganesh Chaturthi and Deepavali.

The party promised to establish a ‘Atal Aahara Kendra’ in each ward of each municipal corporation to provide people with affordable, high-quality, and nutritious food.

The BJP promised to launch the ‘Poshane’ scheme, which will provide half-liter Nandini milk and 5 kg Shri Anna-siri dhanya (millets) to every BPL household through monthly ration kits.

JP Nadda, the president of the BJP, released the manifesto in the presence of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and his predecessor BS Yediyurappa.

In an announcement similar to those made in the run-up to the Assembly elections in Gujarat and Uttarakhand last year, the BJP promised to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Karnataka based on the recommendations of a high-level committee to be formed for the purpose.

According to the party, the National Register of Citizens will be established, and all illegal immigrants in the state will be deported as soon as possible.

In addition to UCC, the party stated that under ‘Abhaya,’ it will launch the Saravrigu Suru Yojane scheme, under which the revenue department will identify and distribute 10 lakh housing sites to homeless people across the state.

The ‘Onake Obavva Samajika Nyaya Nidhi’ scheme was also announced, under which a matching deposit of up to Rs 10,000 will be provided on 5-year fixed deposits made by women from SC/ST households.
The party has also promised to improve the ‘ease of living’ of Bengaluru apartment dwellers by forming the Karnataka Resident’s Welfare Consultative Committee, which will reform the Karnataka Apartment Ownership Act, 1972 and modernise the grievance redressal mechanism.

The BJP announced the ‘Visvesvaryaan Vidya Yojane’ under ‘Akshara,’ under which the government will collaborate with eminent individuals and institutions to transform government schools into world-class institutions.

The party announced the ‘Samanvaya Yojane,’ which will encourage collaborations between SMEs and ITIs in order to create a dynamic ecosystem of education and employment opportunities for young professionals.

The ruling party has also promised to provide aspirational youth with career support in the form of financial incentives to pursue coaching for IAS/KAS/banking/government jobs.

The party promised in ‘Aarogya’ to strengthen public healthcare infrastructure through Mission Swasthya Karnataka by establishing one Namma clinic in each municipal ward. Senior citizens will receive free annual master health check-ups, according to the announcement.

The party stated in ‘Abhivruddhi’ that it will develop Bengaluru for the next generation by designating it as the ‘State Capital Region’.

The party said it will transform Karnataka into a premier hub of electronic vehicles (EVs). It said that charging stations will be set up and public transport buses will be converted into electric buses.
The party said Rs 30,000 crore K-Agri Fund will be set up for establishing cold storage and agro-processing units.

BJP also announced an allocation of Rs 1500 crore to develop the Kalyana Circuit, Banavasi Circuit, Parashurama Circuit, Kaveri Circuit and Gangapura Corridor to transform Karnataka into the country’s “most favoured tourist destination”.

The ruling party promised broadening of the scope of the Production Linked Incentive by incorporating a comprehensive plan aimed to generate 10 lakh manufacturing jobs “Beyond Bengaluru’.
Speaking on the occasion, Nadda said BJP’s manifesto will lay the foundation of the 25 years of Amrit Kaal for Karnataka.

“Our manifesto contains realistic, achievable promises which will fulfil the aspirations of Karnataka’s youth, farmers, women, labours, middle class, SC/ST and all sections of the society,” he said.

“The manifesto for Karnataka has not been formulated sitting in an AC room, rather a due exercise has been done; a great amount of toil and perseverance by our workers who visited every corner of the State was done, before this was created. I would like to say, justice to all, appeasement to none and so the unconstitutional reservation given to minorities was repealed,” he said.