The BJP has in its election manifesto, released on Monday, promised to implement a uniform civil code in Karnataka.
The uniform civil code will be introduced “based on the recommendations given by a high-level committee which is to be constituted for the purpose”.
The party has also promised half a litre of Nandini milk every day to below-poverty-line (BPL) families, a pledge meant at least partly to refute the Opposition allegation that the BJP plans to hand over the state cooperative’s Nandini to Gujarat-based Amul.
The Congress and the Janata Dal Secular have made this allegation an election issue, targeting the votes of the state’s thousands of dairy farmers who would be hit hard by any such handover.
Nandini, which belongs to the Karnataka Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Ltd, has long been a symbol of Kannada pride. However, the BJP governments atthe Centre and the state have been accused of trying to sabotage its market by bringing the Gujarat Milk MarketingFederation’s Amul to Karnataka.
Although Amul products such as ghee, ice cream and long-life milk have been available in Karnataka for years, the recent launch ofAmul’s products such as daily milk and curd via online retail platforms has sparked an uproar.
With the price of cooking gas becoming another hot election issue, the BJP has promised three free cooking gas cylinders to all BPL families every year — one each during Uganda (the Kannada New Year) in April, Ganapathi Chathurthi in September, and Deepavali in November.
Congress leader P.C. Siddaramaiah urged the state BJP to release its report card, instead.
“BJP leaders have no regard for the promises they make. They have not fulfilled more than 90% of their promises made in the previous elections. BJP means betrayers!!” he tweeted.
The BJP has promised to set up Atal Aahara Kendras that will offer subsidised food in every ward of every municipal corporation in the state. The Congress has been accusing the BJP of sabotaging the Indira Canteens that a Congress government had launched in 2017.
The BJP manifestoalso promises a Vishveshwaraya Vidya Yojane for a “holistic upgradation (sic) of government schools”; a Samanvaya Yojane for industrial training institutes to collaborate with small and medium enterprises to promote training and employment; and an unnamed scheme to train aspirants to jobs in the civil service, banks and government offices.
It further promises the eradication of manual scavenging, free health check-ups for senior citizens at the Namma Clinics, a Rs 30,000-crore agricultural fund for micro-storage facilities across the state and Rs 1,500 crore for tourism.
Party national president J.P. Nadda released themanifesto in the presence of chief minister BasavarajBommai, state unit president Nalin Kumar Kateel and former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa.
The Congress has already released its four main “guarantees” to the people of Karnataka although it has yet to release its manifesto.
