Kolkata: Mixing hardline promises on infiltration, the Uniform Civil Code and “Ram Rajya” with a welfare-heavy package for women, unemployed youth and farmers, the BJP on Friday unveiled its West Bengal poll manifesto in what appeared to be its sharpest bid yet to prise away the social coalition that has kept the TMC in power since 2011.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah turned the ‘Sankalp Patra’ release programme here into a pitch wrapped in welfare promises, Bengali symbolism and a sharp attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, seeking to frame the election as a direct contest over identity and welfare.
He promised that if voted to power, the BJP would implement the Uniform Civil Code in Bengal within six months, appoint a “son of Bengal” as chief minister and establish what he called “Ram Rajya” in the state.
Defending the UCC promise amid TMC attacks that it was majoritarian, Shah said the proposal did not originate with the BJP. “It is the Constituent Assembly that recommended it. Is having the same law for every citizen appeasement? Or is it appeasement when one citizen is allowed four marriages and another only one?” he said.
The manifesto also promised strict laws against “love jihad” and “land jihad” and a law guaranteeing every citizen the freedom to practise religion and faith.
Shah also declared that a BJP government would adopt a “detect, delete and deport” policy against infiltrators.
“We will move with zero tolerance towards infiltration,” he said, promising to seal Bengal’s borders, stop cattle smuggling and clear government land of “encroachers and infiltrators”.
The BJP said that within 45 days of coming to power, it would provide all land needed for border fencing and introduce modern scientific patrolling in rivers and canals with the Centre’s help.The reference to Bangladesh dovetailed with the BJP’s campaign around infiltration. “Mamata Banerjee has a different definition of infiltrators. By infiltrators, I mean those who are not citizens of India. We will expel all such infiltrators and give citizenship to refugees.”