The BJP's Manifesto outlines the party’s achievements over the past decade and their guarantees for the future. Here are some key takeaways:
· Decade of Progress: The manifesto highlights a decade of BJP’s governance, emphasizing the transformation in development speed and scale, and the shift in the nation’s mindset towards self-reliance.
· Inclusive Growth: It details the socio-economic changes across various demographics, including women, farmers, and the underprivileged, with a focus on technology-driven empowerment1.
· Future Roadmap: The manifesto presents a vision for the next five years, aiming to propel India into the top 3 global economies, combat poverty, and introduce next-generation reforms.
· Modi’s Guarantees: A series of guarantees are outlined, promising continued development in areas such as housing, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and more, all under the banner of ‘Modi ki Guarantee’.
The manifesto is a blend of past achievements and future promises, aiming to build a narrative of trust and continued progress under BJP’s leadership. It is designed to appeal to a broad spectrum of the population, showcasing a commitment to both ‘Vikas’ (development) and ‘Virasat’ (heritage).
Here are some of the key promises outlined in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) manifesto for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections:
1. Uniform Civil Code (UCC): The BJP pledges to work towards implementing a uniform civil code, which aims to provide a common set of laws governing personal matters such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance for all citizens.
2. Indian Olympic Games Bid (2036): The manifesto commits to facilitating the Indian Olympic Association in bidding for hosting the Olympic Games in 2036.
3. Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA): The BJP promises to implement the CAA, which seeks to grant citizenship to persecuted minorities from neighboring countries.
4. One Nation, One Election: The manifesto aims to make simultaneous elections a reality across all levels of government, streamlining the electoral process.
5. Law Against Paper Leaks: The BJP plans to introduce legislation to address paper leaks and ensure the integrity of examinations and assessments.
6. Garib Parivar Jan: Commitment to empower poor families with initiatives like expanding PM Awas Yojana, providing clean drinking water, slum redevelopment, and free electricity under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana1.
7. Middle-Class Parivar Jan: Focus on supporting middle-class aspirations through quality housing, healthcare, education, and infrastructure development for ease of living.
8. Nari Shakti: Ensuring women’s dignity and growth opportunities with initiatives like increasing women’s participation in sports, expanding health services, and implementing the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam for representation in Parliament and State Legislatures.
9. Young Citizens: Guaranteeing high-quality education, employment, and entrepreneurial opportunities, with a focus on expanding the startup ecosystem and providing mentorship to startups2.
These promises reflect the BJP’s vision for a developed India and demonstrate their commitment to various social, political, and economic reforms. The manifesto serves as a roadmap for the party’s goals and aspirations in the coming years1.
Let’s compare the manifestos of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC):
INC Nyay Patra:
· Equity and Social Justice: The manifesto emphasizes the importance of social justice, with specific commitments to support minorities, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and the LGBTQIA+ community. It proposes measures like enhancing institutional credit and establishing an authority to monitor land distribution to the poor1.
· Youth and Employment: Addressing the concerns of the youth, the manifesto promises jobs, education reforms, and sports development. It guarantees a new Right to Apprenticeship Act and proposes filling nearly 30 lakh vacancies in government posts.
· Women’s Empowerment: The manifesto pledges to advance women’s rights, proposing the Mahalakshmi scheme for financial support and ensuring equal representation in government jobs and higher positions.
· Farmers and Agriculture: The manifesto recognizes the crisis in agriculture and commits to legal guarantees for Minimum Support Prices (MSP), promoting diversification, and enhancing agricultural credit.
The manifesto also covers other critical areas such as defending the constitution, economic policy, federalism, national security, and the environment. It calls for restoring democratic principles, freedom, and prosperity for all, while reversing the damage caused by previous policies. The document is a call to action for radical change in governance and an appeal to vote for the Indian National Congress.
Both manifestos present their respective visions for India’s future, addressing various aspects of governance, development, and social justice. Voters will have to consider these promises when making their choice in the upcoming elections.
The key differences in the economic policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC):
Economic Philosophy:
BJP: The BJP leans more towards a pro-business stance. It favors market-oriented policies and a capitalistic system of economy. Under the BJP, there has been an emphasis on reforms, deregulation, and attracting investment.
INC: The INC, historically, has been more centrist. While it initially leaned towards socialist policies, it has evolved over time. In recent years, the INC has also taken a pro-market stance, subject to electoral constraints12.
Job Creation and Employment:
BJP: Despite promises, the BJP’s record on job creation has been lackluster. India has been adding only around 4.3 million jobs annually for the last decade. The “Make in India” initiative, aimed at boosting manufacturing and exports, has not achieved the desired results. Manufacturing jobs have declined, and exports remain stagnant3.
INC: The INC has emphasized social welfare programs and employment generation. However, its specific approach to job creation may vary based on the context and leadership.
GDP Growth and Economic Performance:
BJP: Prime Minister Narendra Modi set an ambitious goal of achieving a $5 trillion economy by 2025. However, India’s GDP growth has been sluggish, falling from a high of 7-8% when Modi took office to a low of 3.1% by the fourth quarter of 2019-20. Economic shocks like demonetization and the hasty rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) impacted growth3.
INC: During the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, India witnessed robust economic growth. However, the quality of economic data has been questioned, and the comparison between “Modi-nomics” and “Manmohan-nomics” remains a topic of debate45.
Social Welfare vs. Business Focus:
BJP: While the BJP has introduced social welfare schemes (such as PM Awas Yojana and PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana), its primary focus has been on business-friendly policies, ease of doing business, and attracting foreign investment.
INC: The INC traditionally places greater emphasis on social welfare programs, poverty alleviation, and inclusive growth. Its policies aim to address income inequality and uplift marginalized sections of society.
In summary, the BJP tends to prioritize economic reforms, market-oriented policies, and business growth, while the INC emphasizes social welfare, equity, and poverty reduction. However, both parties’ approaches may evolve based on changing circumstances and electoral dynamics.