CHENNAI: Sticking to its core Hindutva plank, the BJP’s manifesto for the Assembly election promised anti-conversion law, cow protection, freeing temple administration from government hands and enforcing prohibition in one go, among other things.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari released the manifesto in the presence of senior leaders of the BJP in Tamil Nadu, and the first copy was received by his ministerial colleague, Pon Radhakrishnan.
The party also promised to introduce yoga and meditation courses from Class VI onwards, a move that had triggered protests in other states. Facilities would be provided in schools to learn a third language apart from Tamil and English. While opposing reservation on the basis of religion, BJP, however, said even minorities would be covered under providing concessions on the basis of income.
An anti-terror law on the lines of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) , protection of indigenous cattle breeds, setting up of National Capital and Manufacturing Centre, Knitwear Board, implementing the UDAY scheme of the Centre, making Tamil Nadu a power surplus State in two years, separate corporation for the welfare of Arundathiyars, fulfilling the demands of Devendrakula Vellalars, are some of the promises mentioned in the BJP manifesto.
Giving a detailed account on temple administration in the State, the manifesto promised to hand over the running of Hindu temples to a board comprising monks, former educationists, judges and religious personalities, in accordance with the recommendation of Justice Krishnasamy Reddiyar Commission, accepted by the State Assembly many decades ago. The State government would monitor the functioning of this board.
Many of the promises, including separate budget for agriculture, waiving of farm loans, creation of Lokayukta, removal of Seemai Karuvel trees, separate Commission for fixing reasonable prices for agricultural produces, separate policy for organic farming, encouraging ethanol production, corruption-free transparent administration, CBSE-level education in all schools, resuming jallikattu, rekhla and other traditional games in the State, encouragement of deep sea fishing, permanent solution to fishermen problems, stopping mining of beach minerals and granite, distribution of sand by government, and setting up of integrated textile parks, inevitably remind one of the manifestos of the DMK and PMK released already.
Board for Temples
The manifesto promised to hand over running of Hindu temples to a board comprising monks, former educationists, judges and religious personalities. The State government would monitor it.
BJP Promises Akin to DMK and PMK?
Many of the promises, including separate budget for agriculture, waiving of farm loans and creation of Lokayukta, were similar to the manifestos of the DMK and PMK released already.