Imphal: The Bharatiya Janata Party Thursday released its much anticipated Election Manifesto for the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly election slated to be held later this month, promising a long list of ‘freebies’ while focusing on the territorial integrity and preserving the rights of indegenous people of Manipur and its culture.
Among the top promises of the BJP are two free LPG cylinders to be provided annually to all the PM Ujjwalas beneficiaries of the state. The saffron party also announced free scooty to all meritorious college going girls and an incentive of Rs 25,000 for girls from the economically weaker section and backward under the Rani Gaidinliu Nupi Maheiroi singi Scheme.
The manifesto also promised free laptops to all the meritorious school going students passing the class XII to support their higher education.
The manifesto which was released by BJP national president JP Nadda, Chief Minister N Biren Singh, BJP state unit president A Sharda Devi along with BJP Manipur incharge Sambit Patra, Maharaj Leishamba Sanajaoba and Union Minister Dr RK Ranjan Singh, also announced that the monthly pension scheme for all senior citizens will be increased from the current Rs 200 to Rs 1o00.
It further said that the financial assistance of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana will be increased for all farmers from Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,000 per annum.
Free of cost accidental insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh will be provided to all the fishermen in the state, it added.
The most important announcement, probably, is the setting up of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Manipur to further advance the standard of healthcare services in the state.
Fo-Fo train (Follow Foothills train), a peripheral rail network along the foothills of Manipur will be launched to boost tourism and increase allied vocational opportunities in the state, it read.
To promote local tourism, cash incentives and subsidies for the homestay owners will be provided, aiming to generate around 1 lakh employment opportunities in the state.
Loktak Megha Eco-tourism project will be undertaken to promote tourism in the state, it continued.
While releasing the manifesto, BJP president Nadda claimed the manifesto had been prepared with due consultation and due diligence. Approximately 1.2 lakh aspirations were collected and discussions were done with all communities.
He further said that the state has gone from insurgency to peace, from divisive politics to a united Manipur. The state was known for blockades and bandhs, but is now known for development, peace, prosperity and coming forward. With agency inputs
