One Nation One Poll, UCC, anti-graft, pro-poor pitch in BJP’s 2024 poll manifesto

New Delhi, Apr 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday released the BJP's Lok Sabha manifesto which has a special focus on the poor, youth, farmers and women, and asserted that the need for a stable government with full majority was necessary when the world was passing through uncertain times.

The prime minister handed over the copies of the manifesto to representatives of the four broad groups — Gareeb, Yuva, Annadata and Nari Shakti (GYAN) — who are beneficiaries of government schemes.

“In the last 10 years, BJP has implemented every aspect of its manifesto as a guarantee. BJP has restored the sanctity of the manifesto,” Modi said at the release of the manifesto.

“The need for a stable majority government increases at a time when the world is passing through uncertain times,” the prime minister said, referring to the several conflicts the world was grappling with.

Modi asserted that the BJP will work towards implementing the one nation, one election initiative, and stressed that the Uniform Civil Code was in the national interest.

“BJP will start working on the promises made in the manifesto immediately after the results are declared on June 4,” Modi said.

“I present this Sankalp Patra of the BJP as a document of ‘Modi ki Guarantee' to the people of the nation for their blessings,” he said.

Reaching out the Tamil Nadu, where the BJP is seeking to get a foothold, Modi announced that the BJP will work towards building Thiruvalluvar cultural centres all over the world.

“We will build Thiruvalluvar cultural centres all over the world. The world's oldest Tamil language is our pride. BJP will undertake every effort to enhance the global reputation of Tamil language,” Modi said.

Thiruvalluvar was a noted Tamil poet and philosopher.

“Our Sankalp Patra empowers the four strong pillars of Viksit Bharat — youth power, women power, poor and farmers. Our focus is on dignity of life, quality of life and employment through investments,” Modi said Earlier addressing the gathering, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the manifesto embodies the guarantees the prime minister had given to the people of the country.

“Modi ki guarantee is equivalent to 24 carat gold and has emerged as the gold standard of governance,” Singh said.

Singh, who helmed the manifesto committee, said more than 15 lakh suggestions were received from across the country which have been incorporated into the manifesto.

The manifesto talks about implementing the one nation, one poll initiatives, preparing common electoral rolls, abolishing waiting lists for train travel, expansion of 5G networks and organising Ramayan festivals world over.

Lok Sabha polls will be held in seven phases beginning April 19.

Here are the key highlights of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) “Sankalp Patra” for the 2024 parliamentary polls:

* Free ration for the poor for the next five years under the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.

* The party will continue to provide free and quality healthcare services of up to Rs 5 lakh to poor families under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

* Free electricity to poor households under the Prime Minister Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.

* Efforts to empower three crore rural women to become “Lakhpati Didis”.

* Integration of women self-help groups (SHGs) with the service sector, enhancing market access for women SHG enterprises:

Ensuring development of infrastructure, such as working women's hostels and creches, with a specific focus on locations near industrial and commercial centres to facilitate increased participation of women in the workforce.

Expansion of the existing health services, focusing on prevention and reduction of anaemia, breast cancer, cervical cancer and osteoporosis, ensuring a healthy life for women.

Launching a focused initiative to eliminate cervical cancer.

Implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam to ensure representation of women in Parliament and the state legislatures.

* A transparent government recruitment system.

* Implementation of a law to prevent paper leaks.

* Expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana to cover senior citizens and provide them access to free and quality healthcare. Delivery of government services at doorsteps to ensure seamless access to social security benefits and other essential government services for senior citizens by leveraging the extensive reach and reliability of the postal and digital network.

* Strengthening the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme to provide sustained financial support to farmers.

* Strengthening the Prime Minister Fasal Bima Yojana through more technological interventions to ensure speedy and more accurate assessment, faster payouts and quicker grievance resolution.

* Increasing the minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

* Launching the Krishi Infrastructure Mission for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of agri-infrastructure projects like storage facilities, irrigation, grading and sorting units, cold-storage facilities and food processing.

* Expansion of irrigation facilities, launching technology-enabled irrigation initiatives to implement cutting-edge technology for efficient water management.

* Launching an indigenous “Bharat Krishi” satellite for farm-related activities like crop forecasting, pesticide application, irrigation, soil health and weather forecasting.

* A periodic review of the national floor-level minimum wages.

* Inclusion of autorickshaw, taxi, truck drivers and other drivers in all social security schemes.

* Empowerment of small traders and MSMEs through the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to help them expand their businesses using technology.

* A focused approach for tribal healthcare, measures to eliminate malnutrition among tribal children and providing comprehensive healthcare services in tribal areas on a mission mode.

* Measures to eliminate sickle-cell anaemia.

* “Modi ki Guarantee” for a secure and prosperous Bharat.

* Robust infrastructure along the borders, technological solutions on the fenced portions to make fencing smarter.

* Implementing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

* Making India the third-largest economy in the world.

* Expansion of employment opportunities.

* Measures to make India a global manufacturing hub in various sectors, including electronics, by 2030.

* “Modi ki Guarantee” on good governance.

* Bringing a Uniform Civil Code.

* Making “One Nation, One Election” a reality.

* Quality education, establishing new institutions of higher learning.

* Balanced regional development, maintaining peace in the northeast.

* Resolution of inter-state border disputes among the northeastern states through sustained efforts.