BJP on Monday released its manifesto ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The 48-page manifesto of BJP for the 2019 general election focuses on national security of the country, the manifesto also addresses the farmers of India. In the last five years, Modi government tried to fulfill the promise of ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’ (One India, Great India) through ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’. Under the able administration of PM Modi, the country is on the path to become a ‘global leader’ through economic and military prowess. The poor and marginalized section of the society has been taken care of through efficient delivery of welfare schemes.
Rajnath Singh, the president of the Manifesto Committee and Home Minister of the country released the 2019 election manifesto. The manifesto committee consulted more than 6 crore people of the country to make it inclusive and far-reaching. BJP promised to fulfill 75 promises by 2022 when the country completes 75 years of independence. There are 12 subsections in the manifesto. BJP promised to bring the country in top 3 economies of the world in upcoming years.
In the manifesto, BJP has promised to scrap Article 370 which gives a special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The manifesto says, “We are committed to overcome all obstacles that come
in the way of development and provide adequate financial resources to all the regions of the state.
We reiterate our position since the time of the Jan Sangh to the abrogation of Article 370.”
The party also promised to nullify the Article 35A of the constitution. “We are committed to annulling Article 35A of the Constitution of India as the provision is discriminatory against non-permanent residents and women of Jammu and Kashmir. We believe that Article 35A is an obstacle in the development of the state. We will take all steps to ensure a safe and peaceful environment for all residents of the state. We will make all efforts to ensure the safe return of Kashmiri Pandits and we will provide financial assistance for the resettlement of refugees
from West Pakistan, Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) and Chhamb.,” says the manifesto.
The scrapping of Article 370 has been under consideration for a long time but was being contemplated in great detail out of concern for their impact on the people involved. Article 370 is the brainchild of the Nehru family, which gives the special status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. In the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel, several steps against Pakistan are being taken by our government.
Article 370 was just a temporary provision but anti-India forces and some people with their own vested interest made it look like as if it is a permanent feature. Political parties and separatists of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly of Kashmir, have been using the Article 370 to woo the masses in their favour to play their vote bank politics and to build emotional barriers between the people of Kashmir and the rest of India.
The party also promised 25 lakh crore rupees investment in the rural and agricultural sector. It also promised to expand PM-KISAN under which 6,000 rupees per annum provided to 12 crore farmer families with less than 2 hectares of land. The party also promised to scrap article 370 which hindered the growth of Jammu & Kashmir and is a threat to national security. The party will also make a trader association to focus on the welfare of traders. The small traders will have access to pension.
The major macroeconomic reforms implemented by the Modi government like GST, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, and Inflation targeting will help the country to achieve double-digit economic growth in upcoming years. GST alone is expected to contribute 1-2 percent in GDP growth. “The economic score card is quite good, except for lagging reforms in the public sector,” said Sumit Bose, vice chairman, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP). One of the biggest achievements of Modi government is healthy economic growth despite low inflation, low fiscal deficit and low Current Account Deficit.