Reacting to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) manifesto of removing “unconstitutional religion-based reservations,” Congress leader and former India cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin stated that reservations are there all over India and they should continue. Azharuddin’s remarks come after the BJP manifesto stated its intention to remove religion-based reservations but provide them to OBCs, SCs, and STs. Azharuddin, who has been fielded by the Congress in the upcoming assembly polls, expressed skepticism about the feasibility of removing reservations. The Congress and BJP have been campaigning aggressively ahead of the elections in Telangana.
The BJP manifesto, which was launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Hyderabad, made various promises. One of the key promises is to officially commemorate Hyderabad Liberation Day on September 17th each year. The BJP also plans to establish a museum and memorial in Hyderabad to document the struggle of the people of Telangana against the Razakars and the Nizams. Shah took the opportunity to target the Congress, claiming that they were always against giving statehood to Telangana. He referred to the manifesto as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guarantee to Telangana.
Regarding corruption allegations, the BJP manifesto promises to appoint a commission of enquiry headed by a retired supreme court judge to probe all corruption allegations, including the Kaleshwaram and Dharscams, and other financial irregularities committed by the incumbent BRS Government. The BJP also emphasizes social justice and promises to appoint Telangana’s first Chief Minister from the Backward Classes (BCs) if they come to power.
The BJP manifesto also focuses on issues such as reducing VAT to bring down inflation, purchasing the entire rice produced in Telangana, providing a minimum support price on Paddy, promoting the export of turmeric, and supporting farmers through various schemes. Additionally, the BJP promises free laptops for girl students, fixed deposits for newborn girl children, loans at a low interest rate for Women Self Help groups (SHGs), and time-bound government recruitment exams.
Other promises in the manifesto include the formation of a Committee to draft a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), coverage of Rs 10 lakh per eligible family per annum for healthcare, free religious pilgrimages for senior citizens, and support for small and marginal farmers. The BJP will compete against the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in the upcoming assembly election in Telangana on November 30.
