BJP manifesto promises to prevent religious conversions in Kerala

The Election manifesto of the BJP has promised an efficient administration with strategy and expertise for the overall development of the state.

Releasing the manifesto the party’s State President, Mr P S Sreedharan Pillai said that the party if voted to power would eliminate poverty totally from the state. The party, he said, would change the status of Kerala as a state dependent on foreign remittances and imports from other states. Kerala would be freed from “debt overhang”.

The party would bring in comprehensive administrative reforms besides introducing reservation for SC and ST in all educational institutions including those run by the minorities. It would bring an end to the politicising of campuses and violent agitations.

The BJP declared that it would take social and legal steps to prevent conversions by force and inducements. It would also protect the cows for which ‘gosalas’ would be set up in every Panchayat.  Government grants to the Devaswoms would be raised to Rs 100 crore. Besides, a comprehensive and uniform law for the Devaswoms would be enacted.

The manifesto said that the SC and ST people who get converted into other religions would be prevented from enjoying the status as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Reservations would be re-determined on the basis of population.

He said that an SC and ST Commission on the similar lines of the national commission constituted by the Vajpayee government would be set up in the state.  Also, steps would be taken to ensure water an electricity supply to all families of Scheduled Castes.

It would take strong action to defeat the plans of extremists and terrorists who are accumulating arms and explosives in the state.

The Party would also fight against the neglect of the state by the Centre. Special packages would be introduced for protection of farmers cultivating plantation and cash crops. Emphasis would be given for the development of the agricultural and traditional industries.

For the development of the capital city a department would be set up. It would implement metro rail projects in the capital and the cities of Kochi and Kozhikode.  Besides, it would expedite the setting up of a branch of the High Court at Thiruvananthapuram and the implementation of the Vizhinjan project.

Senior leaders such as Mr L K Advani, Mr Raj Nath Singh and Mr Venkaiah Naidu would campaign for the party’s candidates in Kerala, he said.