BJP Manifesto: The BJP is bidding for re-election in UP polls that begin Feb 10
The BJP on Tuesday launched its manifesto for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election - to begin in less than 48 hours - with a long list of 'freebies' for voters, including the promise of free electricity (for irrigation) for farmers and jobs or self-employment opportunities to at least one member of each family.
The release of the manifesto - the 'Lok Kalyan Sankalp Patra' - had been postponed as a mark of respect to iconic singer Lata Mangeshkar, who died Sunday at the age of 92.
Launched today by Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the manifesto also promises two free LPG cylinders (one each on Holi and Diwali) under the Ujjwala Yojana scheme, free public transport travel for women over 60, and free two-wheelers for female college students.
In a controversial reminder of the ordinance passed by the Yogi Adityanath government in November, Mr Shah said those found guilty of 'love jihad' - the right-wing conspiracy theory that Muslim men seduce Hindu women to convert them - would be jailed for 10 years and fined Rs 1 lakh.
Other promises made by the ruling party - which is widely seen as facing a stern challenge from Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party to retain control of UP - include a commitment to double the state's per capita income and attract up to Rs 10 lakh crore in investment.
The party also promised an increase in pension for widows to Rs 1,500 per month.
"A few days ago Akhilesh Yadav waved our 2017 sankalp patra (the BJP's 2017 election manifesto) and asked what we did... I can say with pride that 92 per cent of our 212 pledges have been fulfilled..." Mr Shah declared in Lucknow today.
Taking several swipes at Mr Yadav and the Samajwadi Party, whom the BJP ousted in the 2017 election, Amit Shah said: "UP was considered a riot-prone state five years ago. Mothers and sisters were not safe, especially in western Uttar Pradesh and Awadh region."
Mr Shah also hit out at Mr Yadav over his statements on the Covid vaccine; last year, ahead of the launch of the vaccination drive, the Samajwadi leader said he couldn't "trust the BJP's vaccine".
"I remember Akhilesh Yadav's anti-vaccine statement. He got the vaccine eventually... but if the people had listened then UP would have faced a very high death rate during the third wave," he said.
Western UP will be the first region to vote in the seven-phase poll, which begins February 10.
Votes will be counted on March 10.