Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda on Thursday released the party's 20-point election manifesto for the Manipur Legislative Assembly election 2022. However, there is no agenda to repeal AFSPA in the manifesto, which Nadda declined to comment.
The manifesto was released in the presence of Chief Minister N Biren Singh; state BJP president A Sharda Devi; Works Minister Th Biswajit; Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba; chairman manifesto committee, BJP, RK Ranjan, who is also Union Minister of State and Manipur BJP in-charge, Sambit Patra at Hotel Classic Grande, Chingmeirong, Imphal East.
Nadda said BJP’s election manifesto is not just a piece of paper but the commitment for the next five years.
“Manipur is a land of positive vibes, potential talents and gateway to Southeast Asia. The state has witnessed immense developmental changes in the last five years under the abled leadership of Chief Minister Biren. The state has moved from instability to stability; from stability to a big leap; from insurgency to peace and zero tolerance for drugs. Manipur which was once known for bandh and blockades is now known for development,” said Nadda.
The manifesto includes points to increase the monthly pension for all senior citizens in the state from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000; to provide free scooty to all the meritorious college going girls of the state; to provide all girls from economically weaker section (EWS) and backward sections with an incentive of Rs 25,000 under ‘Rani Gaidinliu Nupi Maheiroi Singi Scheme’; free cost of accident insurance cover up to Rs 5 lakh to all the fishermen in the state and others.
The BJP national president also said that the BJP poll manifesto reflects the culture of Manipur. He said that not one of the parties dared to show their report card, it is the BJP alone which releases its report card.
The party is committed to empowering all sections, and will focus on infrastructure, health and education, Nadda said, adding the party’s commitment to protect the integrity of Manipur and the indigenous identity of Manipur.
In an attempt to lure voters, Nadda also said, “We will provide free laptops to all those who passed the higher secondary education for their further studies”.
The BJP leader also mentioned Rs 100 crore budget for providing startup schemes with zero interest, and the generation of one lakh employment, boosting the state economy through tourism and other fields. “Our history shows what we have done. We will be coming up with our report card after five years,” he added.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh also said that the process to release the manifesto is the first of its kind, as the party took suggestions and opinions of people and intellectuals from various fields.
“In the next five years we will deliver all our commitments drafted in the Manifesto,” promised Biren if the party is voted back to power. The BJP election manifesto 2022 truly reflects the aspirations of every Manipuri, he added.
The BJP Manifesto was framed by taking consideration of 6,000 suggestions and feedback from various intellectuals, CSOs, religious leaders, stakeholders, prominent citizens of the state, the party president said.
As a part of the event, vegetables, handicraft items, fruits and others were presented to the BJP national president from various communities.
Agenda to repeal AFSPA is included in the election manifestos of the National People’s Party (NPP), the Indian National Congress (INC); the Janata Dal-United and others.
