Amit Shah Releases UP Manifesto, Says Will Try to Build Ram Mandir

Akhilesh Yadav will have to answer for problems faced by the state, said BJP President Amit Shah.

File photo of BJP President Amit Shah. (Photo: Reuters)

BJP President Amit Shah, on Saturday, released the party manifesto named 'Lok Kalyan Sankalp Patra' (Pledge for People's Welfare) for UP Assembly polls.

‘BIMARU’ (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, UP) states have improved, but not Uttar Pradesh. Centre sanctioned Rs one lakh crore to UP but no development is seen on ground; law and order is at its nadir. UP has been plundered by SP and BSP for 15 years; We have come with a pledge to transform the state. Akhilesh Yadav will have to answer for problems faced by the state where ruling party goondas have grabbed land; merely entering into alliance will not hoodwink people.

Amit Shah

Uttar Pradesh BJP Chief Keshav Prasad Maurya and Yogi Adityanath were also present.

Catch the entire release of the manifesto here.

There were several promises that Shah made. Some of them included efforts to ensure that the Ram temple is constructed under constitutional provisions and that all slaughter-houses are closed in Uttar Pradesh.

The party is firm on the Ram temple issue... efforts will be made to ensure that Ram temple is constructed under the constitutional provisions... law will be followed to get the temple built as soon as possible.

He added that the BJP will form teams at district levels to check “exodus” of people due to communal tension.

In terms of agriculture development, the BJP leader said that in the following five years, a fund of Rs 150 crore will be set up to fund the sector.

Uttar Pradesh will also see the launch of 108 ambulances and the establishment of 25 new medical colleges and super-speciality hospitals.

Shah raked up the 'triple talaq' issue and said if the party wins, it will seek the opinion of the state's Muslim women and approach the Supreme Court accordingly.

If voted to power, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will seek the opinion of Muslim women in Uttar Pradesh on the triple ‘talaq’ issue, which is going on in the Supreme Court. And on the basis of that opinion, the BJP government in the state will then approach the Supreme Court.

Shah said the BJP government would ensure free education to all girls in the state till graduation level under Ahilya Bai Education Scheme.

Similarly in a different scheme, free education for boys till class 12th was also announced by him.

Aiming to take SCs and OBCs in its fold, the party announced a scholarship scheme after Dalit icon Dr BR Ambedkar and OBC leader Ahilya Bai Holkar.

He said, if voted to power, his party will take one step further than the ruling Samajwadi Party's laptop distribution scheme by providing 1 GB free data for one year besides free wi-fi in universities.

Taking a cue from SP, Shah promised to upgrade the Dial 100 of the state police to ensure police help in 15 minutes all over the state.

Shah told reporters that the party will make efforts to ensure construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya "under constitutional provisions", as the party sought to woo all sections in a bid to form the government in UP after 15 years.

While announcing farm loan waiver for small and medium scale farmers, the manifesto promised to provide loan at zero percent interest rate.

To ensure the safety of college girls, innovative anti-Romeo squads will be set up near colleges to check eve-teasing. Besides, three women battalions will be raised for security of women, the document said.

Class 3 and Class 4 employees will be hired only on the basis of merit and no interviews will be held to end corruption, the manifesto said

Shah also attacked SP and Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party which ruled Uttar Pradesh for the last 15 years, accusing them of doing nothing to develop the backward state.

Elections in UP will be held in seven phases from 11 February to 8 March.

(With inputs from media agencies.)