Uniform Civil Code in Karnataka among BJP's poll promises

BENGALURU: Blending Hindutva along with welfare schemes and vikas (development), the BJP on Monday released its poll manifesto “Praja Pranalike” for the May 10 Karnataka elections, promising implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), a National Register of Citizens (NRC), a special wing, Karnataka State Wing against Religious Fundamentalism and Terror (K-SWIFT), three free cooking gas cylinders and half a litre of milk to BPL families, allocation of Rs.1,500 crore to transform the state into a preferred tourism destination, among others.

The manifesto released by BJP president J.P. Nadda, who was flanked by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, former CM B.S. Yediyurappa and senior leaders, has also promised Hindu religion-based thematic tourist destinations, circuits and tourist corridors.

Lauding the BJP’s poll document, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it sets the tone for building on the good work done by the party’s government in the last four years in the state. The Opposition Congress labelled the BJP document as a “JhootLoot BJP Moneyfesto”, and asserted that people will vote out the party.

On the day that the party released its manifesto, Union home minister Amit Shah held a massive roadshow and asserted that the “lotus is set to bloom in Karnataka”. Shah said that “peace and security are the necessary pre-conditions to ensure development and Kannadiga pride and only the BJP can deliver on these vital needs.”

Seeking support for his party, Shah said Bommai and Yediyurappa had done a lot for Karnataka and that the BJP government abolished the four per cent Muslim reservation and boosted the Vokkaliga, Lingayat and SC/ST quotas.

“If the Congress comes to power, they will take back all these reservations (hiked) and once again bring in Muslim reservations. Do you want four per cent Muslim reservation (to come back)?” the Union home minister asked in Tumkur.

BJP president Nadda also held a roadshow in Bengaluru.

At the release of the BJP document, the ruling party insisted that the BJP follows the mantra of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas” and “Justice for All, Appeasement for none,” rubbished all allegations by the Opposition that it was pushing its Hindutva agenda and stated that minorities were the ones who get the maximum benefit of Central schemes, including PM Awas Yojana (PM Housing Scheme) and PM Garib Kalyan Yojana (PM Poor Welfare Scheme).

“We will implement the UCC in Karnataka based on the recommendations given by a high-level committee which is to be constituted for the purpose… We will introduce the National Register of Citizens in Karnataka and ensure speedy deportation of all illegal immigrants in the state,” read the document.

Among other poll promises, the document promises setting up an “Atal Aahara Kendra” in every ward of every municipal corporation in the state to provide “affordable, quality and healthy food across the state”, a “Poshane” scheme through which every BPL household will be provided with half litre “Nandini” milk every day and 5 kg “Shri Anna Siri Dhanya” through monthly ration kits.

The party also promised a “Sarvarigu Suru Yojane” under which the revenue department will identify and distribute 10 lakh housing sites across the state to homeless beneficiaries.

Mr Nadda said the BJP’s “Praja Pranalike”, meaning citizens’ manifesto, was centred around “six As”.

“These six As are Anna (food security), Akshara (quality education), Arogya (affordable health), Aadaya (assured income), Abhaya (social justice for all) and Abhivruddhi (development),” he spelt out.

The BJP said it will launch a scheme called “Onake Obavva Samajika Nyaya Nidhi” through which it will provide a matching deposit up to '10,000 on five-year fixed deposits made under the scheme for women of SC/ST households.

A “Karnataka Residents’ Welfare Consultative Committee” will be set up to reform the Karnataka Apartment Ownership Act 1972 and modernise the grievance redressal mechanism.

Under the proposed “Visvesvaraya Vidya Yojane”, the party promised to partner with eminent individuals and institutions for holistic upgradation of government schools to “top class standards”.

The “Samanvaya Yojane” is collaboration between small and medium enterprises, and the Industrial Training Institutes to generate a dynamic ecosystem of education and employment for talented young professionals, the party said.

In the “Aarogya” category, the BJP has promised to launch “Mission Swasthya Karnataka” by establishing one “Namma Clinic” (our clinic) in each ward of municipal corporations. They will be equipped with diagnostic facilities. Also, it will provide a free annual health check-up for senior citizens.

The party said if it is voted to power, it will allocate '1,500 crores to develop Kalyana, Banavasi, Parashurama, Kaveri circuits and Ganagapura corridor.

“It is a manifestation of the ‘double engine government’. This manifesto is futuristic and a vision document, which fulfills Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of developed India,” Nadda said.

According to him, the BJP manifesto is very different from the promises of the Congress, “which offers guarantees, an outdated warranty”. He said: “The BJP manifesto contains a realistic, achievable promise which will fulfill the aspirations of Karnataka, youths, farmers, women, weavers, the middle class, SC/ST communities.”

When asked if the BJP ‘s plans will communalise the state, Nadda said: “We are working within the ambit of the Constitution. Within the Constitution, we are permitted and directed to implement the Uniform Civil Code. We will move towards the UCC.”

He said: “Regarding communalism, the clear meaning is that what we know and what we believe in is ‘Justice for All and Appeasement for None’ and ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’ (everyone’s cooperation, everyone’s development, everyone’s trust and everyone’s efforts).”

On whether the party was planning to implement the UCC nationwide, Nadda said: “Whichever states the elections are happening in, we are getting stronger. We will take it (UCC) forward. States form the nation. It will further lead that way only.”

In its manifesto, the party said it was constructing a Rama temple in Ramanagara and had taken up the development of Anjaneya (Hanuman) temple in Anjanadri hills, the birth place of Hanuman. When asked whether these were not signs of pushing for the Hindutva ideology, Mr Nadda said: “If someone goes to Vijayanagara, won’t he go to Hampi? Isn’t that our pride? If you go to Ramanagara, won’t you like to see the Ram Temple there? Isn’t that our pride? Isn’t Anjaneya (Hanuman) our pride? … We want to take forward Karnataka, Kannada, and Kannadigas’ pride.”