'BJP will make Ram temple under constitutional ambit'

With barely a fortnight left for the Uttar Pradesh election, the BJP launched its poll campaign here on Saturday by reviving the Ram Mandir issue and released its manifesto "Lok Kalyan Sankalp Patra" for the upcoming UP Assembly polls here.

While releasing the manifesto, BJP national president Amit Shah assured that the BJP was committed to exploring all constitutional options to ensure that the Ram temple is constructed in Ayodhya — emphasising that this marks no shift from the party's stand before the 2014 national election. He also mentioned that the matter is subjudice and further hearings are in queue at the Apex Court.

The BJP has unveiled a 'zero-poverty plan', promised to waive loans for small farmers, free education and scholarships for the poor and in what Shah said tops the offer of Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party, free laptops with 1 GB free internet for the young.

Amit Shah said he had feedback that the BJP would win the state by a two-thirds majority in these Assembly elections. He hopes for more than 300 seats, Shah said, adding: "We have taken the feedback of about 30 lakh people through missed calls, letters, etc. We have done 5,000

public meetings."

The party president also asserted that if BJP comes to power, the state government will put up Muslim women's views and opinions before the Supreme Court on triple talaq.

"The party will ask for feedback from Muslim women in the state about what they want and will join the Triple Talaq case in the Supreme Court on their side," Shah added. He also took a dig at the communal violence in western UP especially. Expressing his concern over the issue, he said: "A special police team will be formed in western UP to prevent Kairana type of exodus." Even the DM could be held responsible if such incidents took place in future.

The BJP's poll manifesto is divided into nine major parts, focussing on major lacks. "Krishi Vikas Ka Bane Adhaar", "Na Gundaraj Na Bhrashtachar", "Har Yuva Ko Milega Rozgar", "Siksha Kshetra Mein Gunvatta Vistar", "Gareebi Se Mukti Ka Sapna Sakaar", "Buniyadi Vikas Majbut Adhaar", "Vikasit Udyog Sugam Vyapar", "Sashakt Naari Samaan Adhikar" and "Swasth Ho Har Ghar Parivar".

While briefing the manifesto, Shah urged the people of UP to give the party a chance to make the state progressive that would inturn help it to shed the "bimaru" tag.

The party also announced a food processing park in Uttar Pradesh and 24 hours power supply for all which was already promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Lok Sabha elections.

The party also promised education in cheaper rates and free education for poor up to Class XII. The BJP also promised to waive education fees for meritorious students up to graduation level. The party also promised to make free wi-fi available in all universities.

Regarding agriculture, the BJP promised to waive off loans of farmers, especially of western UP under Deen Dayal Suraksha insurance policy. All farmers would be provided free insurance till Rs 2 lakh. It would also clear the pending dues of cane farmers within 120 days after the government formation. Focusing on other important social issues like illegal animal slaughtering etc, it also promised a ban on all illegal slaughter houses with no new ones being allowed to be set up. Shah also mentioned the formation of an anti-land mafia task force in each district of UP, if it comes in power. "Police will reach the crime spot in 15 minutes, accused will be sent to jail within 45 days," he asserted.

During the event, he also attacked the state government and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for failing to control crimes against women and mentioned the Bulandshahr rape incident. To make women more secure, the BJP promised new women police in every police stations in

every district. The party also promised six IT parks, and Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Allahabad metro projects would be started immediately.

Even Lucknow metro project would be expanded. New airports would be constructed to boost tourism with new helicopter services. Free piped/LPG gas connection would reach every home under Ujwala Yojana, he said.