UP Assembly polls 2022: Amit Shah releases BJP's manifesto, promises 10-year punishment for those indulging in 'love jihad'

The Bharatiya Janata Party's manifesto for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections was released in the presence of state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Amit Shah, Yogi Adityanath during release of BJP's Election Manifesto for UP (ANI Photo)

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday (February 8, 2022) released Bharatiya Janata Party's manifesto for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

The 'Lok Kalyan Sankalp Patra' was released in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and UP BJP president Swatantra Dev Singh.

Shah promised a 10-year punishment and a Rs 1 lakh fine for those indulging in 'love jihad' if BJP returns to power in Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking on the occasion, Shah claimed, "The BJP has fulfilled more than 92 per cent of 212 'sankalps' (promises) made in its 2017 (poll) manifesto."

लखनऊ में 2022 विधानसभा चुनाव के लिए @BJP4UP के 'लोक कल्याण संकल्प पत्र' के विमोचन पर मेरा संबोधन। #भाजपा_का_संकल्प https://t.co/xGJdTy92pd

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) February 8, 2022

In the manifesto, the saffron party also promised free electricity for irrigation to farmers in the next five years.

If cane payment is not made in 14 days to farmers, the sugar mills then have to pay the dues with interest, the manifesto said.

It said one 'well-equipped' government hospital will be built in every district of the state.

In the next five years, the government will strengthen wheat and paddy purchase at MSP, the party said.

To make the meritorious girl students self-reliant, under the Rani Laxmibai Yojana, free scooters will be given to them, it said.

Under the Swami Vivekanand Yuva Shashaktikaran Yojana, two crore tablets and smartphones will be given, said the manifesto.

General Bipin Rawat Defence Industrial Corridor in Bundelkhand will be completed in a record time, it a.dded

HM Shri @AmitShah releases Lok Kalyan Sankalp Patra in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. #भाजपा_का_संकल्प pic.twitter.com/9aC2PQW0pR — BJP (@BJP4India) February 8, 2022

The release of BJP's 'Lok Kalyan Sankalp Patra' was postponed as a mark of respect to the legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, who died of multi-organ failure on Sunday at the age of 92. 

It is noteworthy that polling in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27, and March 3 and 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

Earlier in the 2017 Assembly elections, the saffron party had won a landslide victory, winning 312 Assembly seats. It had secured a 39.67 per cent vote share in the elections for 403-member Assembly. Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party (SP) had bagged 47 seats, Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had won 19 while Congress could manage to win only seven seats.