BJP releases manifesto in Chhattisgarh, promises Naxal-free state

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday released the election manifesto in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, and came up with several projects and promises of a "Naxal free" state, ahead of the Assembly polls in the state.

Speaking on the manifesto, Chief Minister Raman Singh said that the free salt Yojana will continue and small and landless farmers over the age of 60 years will get Rs 1,000 as pension. He mentioned that the minimum support price (MSP) will be raised by 1.5 times to increase the income of farmers and promised to a proper home for all by 2022.

Raman Singh also promised super-speciality hospitals in Ambikapuram and Jagdalpur and to provide Rs 1 lakh for UHS insurance. He also promised a film city in Chhattisgarh and to develop the cluster of Raipur, Atal Nagar, Bhilai, Durg and Rajnandgaon as the state capital region. 

The CM also promised protection laws for journalists and advocates and announced a photojournalist welfare board. He mentioned having special schools for the Hindi and Chhattisgarh languages, free education and scooters for the meritorious students and free bicycles for students taking admission in Class 9 onwards in order to increase retention in senior secondary schools and promote higher education.

In its manifesto, the BJP has promised two lakh pump connections to the farmers in the next five years; scholarship schemes for students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes; concrete houses for urban poor and rural families; unemployment allowance for the unemployed youth; Rs 1,000 medical allowance for pensioners, Rs 1 lakh medical insurance cover for poor families; Rs 5 lakh insurance cover for the small traders; construction of residential flats for administrative staff in all block headquarters; developing the state as prominent tourist destination; and having a micro-blogging site to bring entire Chhattisgarh diaspora together. 

After releasing the manifesto, BJP national president Amit Shah asserted that the last 15 years rule of the BJP is a model of an ideal state. "Raman Singh government has successfully tried to contain the Naxal and made the state an education hub. This manifesto is for Naya Chhattisgarh," Shah said.

The voting for the first phase in the security-sensitive zone of Chhattisgarh will take place on November 12 where polling will take place for 18 Assembly seats. The second phase is scheduled to take place on November 20. The counting of votes is on December 11.