BJP releases manifesto for elections, farmers to see relief

Bengaluru: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released their manifesto for the upcoming elections on May 4 a mere week after the Congress party released theirs. Reaching out to farmers, the BJP manifesto for the Karnataka Assembly polls promised allocation of Rs 1.5 lakh crore for irrigation projects and waiver of farm loans of up to Rs 1 lakh borrowed from nationalised and cooperative banks. The manifesto, unveiled by BJP state unit president and the party's chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa, also said if voted to power, the party would bring out a 'white paper' on the financial health of the state under the Congress rule. Speaking after releasing the manifesto at a private hotel, BSY also said that an opportunity would be provided to the farmers to tour China and Japan. Free smartphones, free sanitary napkins and a scheme to provide Rs 25,000 and three grams of gold for brides coming under the BPL category for their marriage, are some of the promises that were made to the women of Karnataka. They also promised to open "Annapoorna Canteens". The manifesto also states the party's intention to revive the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation Bill 2012 (Go Seva Ayog) and also sets aside a Rs 3,000-crore Kamadhenu Fund for the purpose of animal husbandry and dairy farming infrastructure development. Apart from the aforementioned promises, the manifesto also states that the BJP intends to cancel the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and provide free laptops to all college students. BJP MP and state leader Shobha Karandlaje said the manifesto was a "vision document" which reflected the people's aspirations and expectations. Over three lakh people and experts were consulted during the preparation of the manifesto, she said. The manifesto was released after paying homage to party sitting MLA and its candidate for Jayanagar constituency B N Vijaykumar, who died of a massive heart attack at a hospital here today. Source: News Karnataka