Elections 2014: From economic reform to protecting cows, BJP promises it all

New Delhi Taking up issues ranging from economic revival to protecting cows and Ram temple the much delayed manifesto of the BJP Monday promised immediate and decisive action to revive the country from the decade of decay of the UPAA BJP supporter waves the party flag before a public meeting for Bharatiya Janata Party BJP senior leader LK Advani ahead of the countrys national elections in New Delhi on April 4 2014 Pic AFPThe manifesto which was released even as one part of the country went to the polls was summarized as good governance and development by partys prime ministerial candidate Narendra ModiIt however did not miss out on the core ideological issues of the party mentioning construction of Ram temple removal of Article 370 giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir in the constitution and protection of the cow and its progenyThe Bharatiya Janata Party also promised modernizing madrasas seminaries and working for giving equal opportunities to minoritiesThe Congress which leads the ruling United Progressive Alliance UPA dismissed the manifesto as a copied document Congress president Sonia Gandhi said it proved BJP is a threat to Indias integrity and unityThe Congress also went to the Election Commission saying that the manifestos release was violation of the model code of conduct and urged the panel to pass orders to stop its publicity and circulationIn a surprise clarification from the stage after the manifesto release Modi assured he would never do anything with wrong intentI will never do anything for myself ever and I will never do anything with wrong intent I assure you he declared without elaboration though its meaning was left to varying interpretationsIf I have to summarize our manifesto in two words I will say good governance and development Modi added his voice a little hoarse from the many election speeches he has been giving all over the countryThe manifesto lists price rise corruption black money and policy paralysis as imminent issues to be addressedTalking in details on the economic front the BJP promised better infrastructure and stability in prices and taxation while adding that it was in favour of FDI but not in multibrand retailBarring the multibrand retail sector foreign direct investment will be allowed in sectors wherever needed for job and asset creation the party manifesto saidBJP manifesto committee chief Murli Manohar Joshi said it also focused on decentralization of power and creation of a representative and participatory democracy Education finds a prominent mention with the party promising world class institutions when it comes to powerThe party also pledged to revise and update Indias nuclear doctrine observing that the strategic gains acquired by the partyled NDA regime were frittered away by the Congress and unveiled a foreign policy that would stress on mending equations and ties with neighboursOn infrastructure it said India should no longer be limited by its infrastructure For this purpose we have to devote ourselves for a decadeTrying to address minorities BJP promised to strengthen and modernize minority educational systems and institutions and initiating a national Madrasa modernization programmeIt is unfortunate that even after several decades of independence a large section of the minority and especially Muslim community continues to be stymied in poverty Modern India must be a nation of equal opportunity BJP saidNot letting go of the controversial Ram temple issue that has been communally divisive for the country the BJP manifesto said BJP reiterates its stand to explore all possibilities within the framework of the constitution to facilitate the construction of Ram temple in AyodhyaAsked if the party was trying give the manifesto a religious tone Joshi said Hindutva is not an election issue for us This is an issue which is of cultural importance to usThe manifesto release was missed by party leader Arun Jaitley who was filing his nomination from Amritsar and former party presidents M Venkaiah Naidu and Nitin Gadkari both reportedly busy with election campaignsWhile the BJP bigwigs put up a united show an iciness between the key leaders was evident on the dais shared by Modi president Rajnath Singh party veteran LK Advani Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj and Joshi