Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday issued the BJP’s election manifesto for the two-phase West Bengal Assembly elections, promising $3,000 per month for women and the unemployed, new industries, and enforcement of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), among others.
“BJP will win the elections with an absolute majority and will form its government in Bengal after May 4. I appeal to the people not to be afraid of anyone. Cast your votes without fear,” Shah said while issuing the 15-page statement titled ‘Bharuchar Shabooth’ (Pledge of Faith) in all languages, including English.
“Your next prime minister will be a son of the soil, a Bengali speaker, and a capable person,” Shah said at the press conference, amid speculation that the party may not field a prime ministerial candidate until the results are announced on May 4.
“All BJP-ruled states will follow the UCC law. Bengal will not be an exception. If the nation’s law and constitution treat every citizen equally, how can one citizen have four wives while another citizen can have only one?” Shah said.
The statement focused largely on women and youth. Women make up a large part of the voting base of the Trinamool Congress, which is seeking a fourth consecutive term.
In the February state budget, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee increased the monthly financial assistance to women under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme by $500 – Take it to $1500 for the general category of women $1,700 for women from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
“Women will receive $3000 between the first and fifth of every month. They can ride state buses for free. Shah announced that there will be 33% reservation for women in all government jobs in the state, including the police force.
“We will empower 7.5 million women under the Centre’s Lakhpati Didi scheme,” Shah said.
The manifesto promised to give priority to women in industrial policy, and grant revised monthly fees to Anganwadi, Prani Mitra and ASHA workers.
“We will also provide $50,000 for girls upon admission to graduation courses. We will reopen all cases of atrocities against women, such as the Sandeshkhali case, and provide immediate financial compensation and legal assistance. For this reason, a committee will be formed headed by a Supreme Court judge.”
Focusing on youth, Shah promised to increase monthly financial assistance to the unemployed $1500 – announced by the TMC government in February under the Yuva Sathi Scheme – to $3000 so that they get jobs.
“We will create 10 million new jobs and self-employment opportunities over the next five years,” Shah said.
Focusing on industry, the BJP promised an investment-friendly environment through a single window clearance system, setting up an industrial park in Singur and four industrial parks across the state.
“We will make Haldia a hub for port-led development and the blue economy will modernize the ailing tea industry and revive Bengal’s iconic jute industry,” Shah said.
While the TMC claims in its campaign that Bengalis will have to give up non-vegetarian food if the BJP comes to power, the manifesto made a lot of promises to fishermen. He added: “We will work on projects to guarantee pensions, insurance and social security for fishermen, and encourage deep-sea fishing with subsidized boats.”
TMC state general secretary Abhishek Banerjee hit back at Shah, saying that the BJP had made false promises to lure voters with money. “The Shah promised to provide 10 million new jobs. Please go and ask him whether the BJP has provided employment to 5,000 people from Bengal after coming to power at the Centre,” he said.
Shah also pledged action against infiltrators from Bangladesh, saying: “We will implement the ‘detect, delete and deport’ model. Cross-border infiltration and cattle smuggling will be stopped forever.”
