Karnataka elections: Yeddyurappa releases BJP’s manifesto, promises cow slaughter bill

Bharatiya Janta Party on Friday released its manifesto for the upcoming Karnataka elections in Bengaluru. The manifesto was released by party's Chief Minister candidate BS Yeddyurappa in the presence of various party leaders.

The manifesto promises re-introduction of cow slaughter bill, to waive off loans of up to Rs 1 lakh for farmers and weavers. The BJP said that it would do away with the ACB and revive the Lokayukta. This has been one of the major poll planks of the BJP which has accused the Congress of deteriorating law and order in the state.

"We are committed to reducing the burden of debt on our Annadaatas. We will announce a crop loan waiver up to Rs1 Lakh, including all loans from Nationalised Banks and Co-operatives, in our first Cabinet Meeting for the benefit of our Annadaatas," said Yeddyurappa releasing the manifesto.

"Welfare of farmers has always been our priority. We will allocate Rs 1,50,000 Cr for various irrigation projects in Karnataka and ensure water reaches to every field in the state", he said.

Here are the highlights of BJP manifesto

• Rs 3,000 Crore Kamadhenu Fund for development of animal husbandry and dairy farming infrastructure and Rs 1,000 Crore fund for expanding veterinary services.
• The "Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation Bill 2012" will be reintroduced.
• Rs 5,000 Crore "Raitha Bandhu Market Intervention Fund" to support farmers during price fluctuations.
• "Raitha Bandhu Department", under CMO, to monitor implementation of all farmer friendly schemes.Rs 1.5 Lakh Crore "Sujalam Suphalam Karnataka Yojane" to complete all irrigation projects by 2023.
• Launch "Mission Kalyani" to rejuvenate all tanks and lakes in the state.
• 3 phase power supply for 10 hours for farmers to operate their pump sets.
• Rs 100 Cr "Raitha Bandhu Scholarship" to enable farmers' children to pursue agriculture & allied sector courses.
• 1,000 farmers to travel to countries like Israel & China per year to study best practices under the "CM's Fellowship for Agriculture".
• Establish a Rs 10,000 Crore "Stree Unnati Fund" to set up one of the largest women run co-operatives and establish "Stree Unnati Stores" to market its products Loans up to Rs 2 Lakhs shall be given to women only SHGs at 1% p.a.interest.
• Form a Special Investigation Cell, under a woman Police Officer and employing 1,000 policewomen to investigate all pending crimes against women.
• Increase the amount payable at maturity under the Bhagyalakshmi scheme to Rs 2 Lakh.
• Provide free sanitary napkins to BPL women and girl students and at Rs. 1 for other women under the new "Stree Suvidha Scheme."
• Launch the "Mukhya Mantri Smartphone Yojane" to provide women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families with a free smartphone.
• "Ayushman Karnataka Scheme" to provide poor and vulnerable families with a cover of Rs 5 Lakh for treatment.
  
• Set up 2 "Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences" (on the lines of AIIMS).
• Organise a Special Industrial Investment Summit for Hyderabad Karnataka region in one of the District Headquarters in the Article 371-J region every 2 yearsto attract investment into the area.
• Rs 2,500 Cr "Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Fund" to clean and revive the lakes and rivers of Bengaluru and free Bengalureans from the water tanker mafia.
• Form "Kittur Rani Chennamma Flying Squads" to attend to distress calls of women in Bengaluru quickly.
• Set up KIRTI Aayoga (Karnataka Institute for Reformative and Transformative Initiatives) to replace Karnataka Knowledge Commission and state planning Commission.
• Strengthen the Sakala Act & expand the scope of the Sakala Act to all Govt services.
• Hyderabad K'taka Industrial Mega Corridor will be built from Hosapete to Hyd passing through Koppal, Raichur, Yadgir, Kalaburagi and Bidar.
• Commit to "Inclusive Long-Term Vision of Development" in carrying out a "30 District - 30 Hub" mega development plan.
• "Annadasoha" Scheme to ensure food security for all. Provide BPL card holders with free food items and APL card holders with quality food items at lesser rates Rs 1,500 Crore.
• "Maharishi Valmiki Scholarship Scheme" to increase scholarships of ST students.
• Rs 8,500 Crore "Madara Chennaiah Housing Scheme" to build modern housing for SC Communities.
  
• Rs 1,000 Crore "OBC Fund" to incentivise traditional occupations and ensure welfare of practitioners of traditional professions.
• Special coaching centres to prepare SC/ST/OBC/BPL students for entrance exams like JEE, CAT, KPSC and UPSC.
  
• BPL category students seeking higher education to get zero interest rate loans upto Rs 3 Lakh for degree and Rs 5 Lakh for integrated courses.
• Waiver of loans taken by weavers within 3 months of forming the government.
• Set up development corporations/welfare boards for Tigala, Savita Samaja, Idiga, Billava and Yadava communities.
  
• Celebrate Amarashilpi Jakanachari Jayanti every year.
• Ensure that there is no interference by the government in temple administration and maintenance.
• Ensure that the revenue of temples is used only and fully for expenditure on temples and related religious activities.
• Separate ministry to plan and implement projects to ensure clean drinking water using river and surface water for every household.
• Separate ministry to make Karnataka a "Hut Free" and "Slum Free" state through proper implementation of PM Awas Yojana.
• Provide PhD students of Kannada language & literature with a scholarship of Rs 1 Lakh per annum from "Da Ra Bendre Scholarship Fund".
• Ensure that exams for all Govt jobs & entry into govt educational institutions are conducted in Kannada.
• Make Kannada a compulsory non-test introductory subject in all universities to help non Kannada speaking students.
• Sign MOUs with other states to offer Kannada as a second/ third language in their schools and as an optional subject in universities.
• Double annual grants to the Kannada Sahitya Parishad & other similar government bodies to ensure widespread dissemination of Kannada literature and culture.
  
• Support and promote writers, poets & other literary professionals writing in Kannada.

On April 27, Congress released its "People's Manifesto" where Congress president Rahul Gandhi described it as the "voice of the people of Karnataka" and not a document prepared by "three or four people in a closed room". Modi had called Congress manifesto a bundle of lies.

The elections to the 224-member Assembly in Karnataka are scheduled on May 12. The results will be declared on May 15.