Will give Delhi clean, corruption-free govt, promises BJP

New Delhi, Jan 31 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party promised a clean, corruption-free and transparent government, along with better education and clean air and several other things for a better Delhi, as it released its manifesto for the February 8 Assembly elections on Friday.

The ‘Sankalp Patra’ titled ‘Desh Badla, Ab Delhi Badlo’ (the country has changed, now change Delhi), was released by Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Prakash Javadekar, Harsh Vardhan and Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari.

It said the BJP is “committed to provide a clean, corruption-free and transparent government to the people of Delhi and we will take all steps in this regard”.

Tiwari said a comprehensive scheme for the development of the unauthorised colonies, “now authorised”, will be framed and now a dedicated Colonies Development Board will be formed.

“Poor families will be supplied wheat flour at the rate of Rs 2 per kg. Piped water will be supplied to all by 2024,” he said.

Tiwari also said the education and health budget will be increased by 10 per cent and 10 new colleges and 200 new schools will be opened.

He also said that on the birth of the first two girls in a poor family, the government will deposit a fixed amount in their account and they will get benefit of Rs 2 lakh at the age of 21.

“For the purpose of encouraging poor girl students to study, girls studying from Class 9 to 12 will be provided a free bi-cycle and college students an electric Scooty.”

The BJP also promised employment to at least 10 lakh persons during the five years and will also the setting up of a Women Empowerment Mission Board.

While the manifesto did not said that the BJP will continue the existing power and water subsidy, Tiwari said that the BJP will not end anything.

“Whatever is going on will continue. The BJP is not here to end anything. We are talking about new things in the manifesto,” he said.

The main pointers of the manifesto do have the subsidy point.

“The subsidies announced by the (Aam Aadmi Party) government in the past few months will continue for another five years. Our subsidies will give more benefits to the people as they will go on for 60 months,” it said.

The manifesto said the monthly pension for the widows of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots will be increased to Rs 3,500 from Rs 2,500.

It said a Yamuna Board will be formed and Yamuna Mahotsav will be celebrated.

Three of Centre’s flagship schemes will also be implemented in Delhi, if BJP comes to power — Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Awas andASamman Nidhi directly in farmer’s account.

Tiwari said Vishwakarma Kaushal Vikas Vidhyalaya will be established under which the students will be ensured 100 per cent employment.

“Sports policy will be framed according to the Fit India and Khelo India policy of Prime Minister Narender Modi. Allotment for 52,000 houses constructed for the workers and low income group in the industrial area will be done on the priority basis.”

For controlling pollution, the manifesto stresses the use of electric vehicles. It also promised to formulate a scheme to encourage and provide financial assistance to the cycle-rickshaw pullers to switch to e-rickshaws.

It also promised 10,000 green buses, and a Green Industry Corridor to check air pollution.

An ‘Economic Backward Classes Commission’ and better connectivity was also offered.