As the Lok Sabha elections draw near, the ruling BJP made a significant move by unveiling its election manifesto. At the grand launch event held at the party headquarters in Delhi, key figures including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president JP Nadda, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and other senior party members were present.

In its "Sankalp Patra," the ruling party has outlined numerous commitments. Addressing the audience at the BJP headquarters, PM Modi attributed the transformation in people's lives to government schemes and programmes, labeling it as "the most significant achievement of our government over the last 10 years."

The BJP's Sankalp Patra includes several notable highlights:

-The Ayushman scheme will be extended to cover all senior citizens aged 70 and above.

- The free ration scheme will be maintained for the next five years.

- The Mudra loan limit is set to increase from the current Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.

- A commitment to ensure access to clean drinking water through the "Har Ghar Nal se Jal" initiative for all households in villages, towns, and cities.

- Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, free electricity will be provided to impoverished households.

- The manifesto promises the establishment of additional IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, and similar educational and healthcare institutes.

- It includes plans to submit a bid for hosting the Olympic Games in 2036.

- The proposal entails the creation of Bullet Train Corridors in the northern, southern, and eastern regions of India.

- Additionally, the manifesto outlines plans to introduce three models of Vande Bharat trains: Vande Bharat sleeper, Vande Bharat chaircar, and Vande Bharat metro.   

- Introducing a 'Super App' to offer all train-related services to users within a single application.

- Promising the development of new-age trains and world-class stations, alongside an expansion of the metro network.

- Committing to the implementation of a law to prevent paper leaks and ensure transparent public exams.

- Proposing the establishment of 'One Nation, One Student ID' through the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR). This system aims to store academic qualifications, credit scores, and certificates for students across all levels of education, from pre-primary to higher education.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera delivered a pointed critique of the BJP's manifesto, suggesting that it should be termed as a 'maafi nama' or an apology rather than a 'Sankalp Patra'.

He highlighted unfulfilled promises from 2014, such as the pledge to retrieve black money, which resulted in the introduction of electoral bonds. Khera also criticised the government's approach to urban development, pointing out the involvement of China in building smart cities within Indian territory.

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate accused the BJP of employing a strategy of propagating lies so vehemently that they are perceived as truths by the public. She noted that the BJP's manifesto fails to address significant issues such as the ethnic violence in Manipur and the protests in Ladakh.

Image source: India Today