As parties are fighting the crucial battle for supremacy in Karnataka, the BJP on Friday released its election manifesto in Bengaluru promising loan waiver as its main plank to the farming community.
It said that it would waive off farm loan up to Rs 1 lakh taken from various institutions including nationalised banks. This indicates that saffron party continued its focus on farming community. BJP’S Chief Ministerial face BS Yeddyurappa along with other party leaders released the manifesto.
It said “Crop loan waiver upto Rs 1 lakh, including all loans from nationalised banks and cooperatives, in our first cabinet meeting for the benefit of our Annadaatas.”
Congress had released its election manifesto both for the state and the region wise has announced rupees 8,165 crore farm loan wavier. All three parties who are fighting crucial battle in Karnataka, the Congress, BJP and JDs have been focusing on farm sector.
Continuing its focus on farmers, BJP announced ‘Negilayogi Yojane’ to provide direct income support of Rs 10,000 to 20 lakh dry land and marginal farmers. “Rs 5000 crore ‘Raitha Bandhu Market Intervention Fund’ to support farmers during price fluctuations,” the BJP announced. The manifesto talks about reintroducing Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation Bill 2012.
BJP has also announced ‘Mukya Mantri Smartphone Yojane’ to provide free smartphones to women from below povertly line (BPl) families and free laptops to every student enrolling in a college. The party also announced free sanitary napkins to women from below poverty line (BPl) and girl students and at Rs 1 to other women under the new ‘Stree Suvidha Scheme’. It has also announced three gram gold thaali (mangalsutra) and Rs 25000 for marriage of women falling under BPl category under ‘Vivaha Mangala Yojane’.
As BJP is accusing Congress Government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of diluting the lokayukta, has announced to restore the office of the lokayukta to its full efficacy in its first cabinet meeting itself. It also assured to enact the Karnataka whistle blower Act and release a ‘white paper’ within 100 days of forming the Government on the fiscal health of the State to highlight the mismanagement of the five year Congress rule.
It said farmers would be sent to countries like Israel and China every year to study best practices in agriculture. It said 300 'Mukhya Mantri Annapoorna Canteens' would be opened to provide meals at affordable price. The state's Congress government already runs Indira Canteens which have become very popular.
The manifesto said the BJP Government would launch 'Gobar-dhana Yojane' to help farmers monetise cow dung. The manifesto said the BJP Government would take steps for making Bengaluru, the IT hub of the country, a world class "zero garbage" city.