PM Modi releases BJP's LS poll manifesto with special focus on poor, youth, farmers, women

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday released the BJP's Lok Sabha poll manifesto, which has a special focus on the poor, youngsters, farmers and women.

The prime minister handed over copies of the manifesto to the representatives of the four broad groups -- Gareeb, Yuva, Annadata and Naari Shakti (GYAN) -- who were beneficiaries of the government's schemes.

Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman released the manifesto for the polls that are scheduled to commence from April 19.

Addressing the gathering earlier, Singh said the manifesto embodies the guarantees the prime minister has given to the people of the country.

"Modi ki guarantee" is the recurring theme of the manifesto, he said.

"Modi ki guarantee is equivalent to 24-carat gold and has emerged as the gold standard of governance," the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said.

Singh, who headed the party's manifesto committee, said more than 15 lakh suggestions were received from across the country and those were incorporated into the document.

The manifesto talks about implementing the "one nation, one poll" initiative, preparing common electoral rolls, abolishing waiting lists for train travel, expansion of 5G networks and organising Ramayan festivals the world over.

Here are some pointers of the manifesto:

• All 70-plus senior citizens to be covered under Ayushman scheme
• Free ration scheme to continue for next five years
• Mudra loan limit to be hiked from current Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh
• Ensure clean drinking water, Har Ghar Nal se Jal for all households in villages, towns and cities.
• Provide free electricity to poor households under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
• Empower the Neo-Middle Class
• Expand Bharat's top-tier startup ecosystem to tier-2 and tier-3 cities
• Introduce more IITs, IIMs, AIIMS and other such institutes.
• Launch internship programmes to blend academic and practical skills.
• Empower three crore more rural women to become Lakhpati Didis
• Increase Women's Participation in Sports
• Implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam
• Implement Law to Prevent Paper Leaks and conduct transparent public exams
• Expand the Startup Ecosystem
• Increase employment opportunities in manufacturing
• Facilitate convenient Teerth Yatra for senior citizens
• To strengthen PM KISAN & PM Fasal Bima Yojana
• Increase in MSP
• Insurance for Fisheries
• Empower Small Traders and MSMEs with ONDC
• To expand metro network in major urban centres ensuring last-mile connectivity
• Initiate feasibility studies for Bullet Train Corridors in North, South and East India
• Three models of Vande Bharat trains are to be run -- Vande Bharat sleeper, Vande Bharat chaircar, and Vande Bharat metro.
• Uniform Civil Code: Article 44 of the Constitution lists the Uniform Civil Code as one of the Directive Principles of State Policy. BJP believes that there cannot be gender equality till such time Bharat adopts a Uniform Civil Code, which protects the rights of all women, and the BJP reiterates its stand to draw a Uniform Civil Code, drawing upon the best traditions and harmonising them with the modern times.
• To launch Gaganyaan, Bharat's first human spaceflight mission, and land an astronaut on the Moon.
• Committed to seeking permanent membership in the UN Security Council
• To take Digital Public Infrastructure to the World
• Preserving and promoting the legacy of Lord Ram
• Zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism to be continued
• Robust infrastructure along borders to be ensured
• Reinforce the fight against drugs
• Make Bharat the third-largest economy
• Honour Honest Taxpayers
• Implement 'One Nation, One Student ID' through the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) to store academic qualifications, credit scores and certificates, among others for students from pre-primary to higher education.
• Make One Nation, One Election a reality