Amit Shah’s Announcement:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has released the BJP’s election manifesto for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. He also mentioned the National Conference’s manifesto and criticized Congress’s support for Article 370, which he believes is now a thing of the past and will not return.
Key Promises in BJP’s Manifesto:
- Tackling Terrorism and Separatism: BJP aims to eliminate terrorism and separatism, making Jammu and Kashmir a leading region in development and progress.
- Financial Support for Senior Women: Under the “Maan Samman” scheme, each senior woman in a household will receive ₹18,000 annually.
- Support for Women’s Self-Help Groups: Assistance with interest on bank loans for women’s self-help groups.
- Free LPG Cylinders: Ujjwala beneficiaries will receive 2 free LPG cylinders each year.
- Employment Opportunities: 500,000 jobs will be created under the PPNDRY scheme.
- Education Benefits: College students will get ₹3,000 annually for transportation. Coaching fees for exams like JKPSC and UPSC will be covered up to ₹10,000 for two years.
- Examination Costs: Reimbursement for transportation costs to exam centers and a one-time application fee.
- Tech for Students: Tablets and laptops will be provided to students in higher classes.
- Regional Development: Formation of a regional development board for Jammu to boost local development.
- Tourism Promotion: Promotion of tourism in Jammu, Dal Lake, and Kashmir.
- Industry and Employment: New industries will be set up to create jobs.
- Support for Existing Businesses:
- A new policy to address issues faced by 7,000 existing MSMEs.
- Regularization of lease deeds for small traders.
- Measures to resolve issues faced by units and workers.
- Land for the Landless: Allocation of 5 marla plots to landless beneficiaries through the Atal Housing Scheme.
- Free Electricity: Free electricity through the Prime Minister’s Solar Home Scheme, with a ₹10,000 subsidy for solar equipment.
- Increased Pensions: Increasing pensions for the elderly, widows, and disabled from ₹1,000 to ₹3,000.
- Health Coverage: Additional ₹2 lakh coverage under Ayushman Bharat, making it ₹7 lakh total.
- Medical College Seats: Adding 1,000 new seats in government medical colleges.
- Farmer Support: Providing an additional ₹4,000 under the PM-Kisan scheme, lowering electricity rates for farming by up to 50%.
- Reservation for SC/ST: Ensuring reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in government promotions.
- Transfer Policy: Creating a transfer policy for SC and other employees, especially in Kashmir.
- Agniveer Quota: Providing 20% reservation for Agniveers in government jobs and police recruitment without affecting the general quota.
Amit Shah on Jammu and Kashmir’s Integration:
Amit Shah emphasized that Jammu and Kashmir has always been a crucial part of India and will remain so. He praised the efforts to integrate it with India since independence.
See here also : haryana-elections-inside-news-on-congress-aap-seat-sharing-talks
Amit Shah’s Criticism of Rahul Gandhi:
Shah criticized Rahul Gandhi for his silence on the National Conference’s manifesto. He questioned whether Gandhi supports the National Conference’s stance or not, demanding a clear answer.