The problems of women folk of the State appeared to be the top priority of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as it highlighted the issues related with them in its election manifesto. The party released its manifesto of Uttarakhand for the ensuing lok Sabha elections here on Tuesday. AAP manifesto clearly stated that it would openly support the women wherever they are opposing the opening up of the liquor shops and said that the party would reduce the number of liquor shops in the State by 2 per cent every year if voted to power.
The party also cited decentralisation of power and handing it to the common people is its chief motto. The manifesto which deals with both national and local issues was released by the Convener of Election Campaign committee SS Bisht, member secretary NN Pandey, State co-convener Asha Rani Kapoor and other party leaders.
Briefing about the content of manifesto SS Bisht said the political parties made the common man a god of one-day only on the day of elections and leave him high and dry afterwards. He said that AAP was committed to bring an effective Jan lok Pal bill and added that root of corruption lies in centralisation of power and key to bringing a true democracy lies in decentralization.
He said that Gairsain should be made the capital of Uttarakhand and the party would oppose the plans to construct a new Assembly building in Dehradun. He said that his party would not allow reckless destruction of Himalayas in the name of development and is committed to stop the mining mafia. Bisht said that it was unfortunate that the perpetrators of crimes against the women at Muzzafarnagar during the struggle for a separate Uttarakhand state were still unpunished and added that the people of hilly areas were reeling under acute shortage of doctors as the doctors refused to serve there and the solution for this problem lies in creating a block cadre of doctors who should serve in their respective blocks for at least ten years.
The manifesto of AAP says that the local population is the rightful owner of the natural resources of the country. It highlights the role of village Panchayats and says that they should be given powers to either grant or refuse its land for industry purposes. The manifesto also deals to employ proper methods to stop the black money, methods for inclusive development, imposing proper land ceiling laws and speedy land consolidation to improve farming in mountainous areas.