NEW DELHI: The BJP on Friday released the first part of its manifesto for the Delhi Assembly elections, focusing primarily on women by promising Rs 2,500 monthly assistance, Rs 21,000 during pregnancy and LPG cylinders for the poor at Rs 500. The party also announced Rs 2,500 pension for senior citizens.
Releasing the ‘Sankalp Patra’ here, BJP president JP Nadda said, “The welfare schemes we have announced will serve as the foundation of a developed Delhi. Our manifesto prioritises the empowerment of women and the welfare of senior citizens.”
The BJP chief said if the saffron party formed its government, not only would all existing public welfare schemes continue, these would be “strengthened and implemented in a more efficient manner”. “Bus travel has been free for women, but it needs to be seen how many buses have been added to the existing fleet? We will ensure the number of vehicles is increased,” said Nadda.
The AAP-led Delhi Government has been running several welfare schemes, including free power of up to 200 units, free bus travel for women, free water and free pilgrimage for senior citizens. In its manifesto, the AAP has announced Rs 2,100 per month to women while the Congress has promised Rs 2,500.
Hitting back at the BJP, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal said the saffron unit had “copied” his party and announced several ‘revdis’ (freebies), “but Prime Minister Narendra Modi won’t approve of the freebies promised by his party”.
“The BJP manifesto is nothing but a copy of AAP’s welfare schemes. The BJP leadership should publicly acknowledge that welfare measures like free electricity, water and bus services are in reality a boon for the people. The BJP manifesto can be summed up in one line —‘Arvind Kejriwal’s work is good and we will continue it’,” the former Chief Minister remarked. Kejriwal also targeted the BJP over its alleged failure to address critical issues such as law and order, housing for slum dwellers and registries for residents of unauthorised colonies. He said the Prime Minister had multiple times in the past criticised him for distributing “revdis”, but the BJP itself had this time announced freebies in the elections. “Now, PM Modi should acknowledge that Arvind Kejriwal was right, and that ‘revdis’ are not harmful but a blessing,” he said. Another women-centric scheme announced by the BJP is providing one free cylinder each on Holi and Diwali. Nadda said the BJP government was fully committed to maternal safety and nutrition. “The Central Government has already set an example of women empowerment by increasing the maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks in 2017,” the party president said.
On the same lines, he said, the BJP had decided to provide six nutritional kits and one-time assistance of Rs 21,000 to every pregnant woman in Delhi under ‘Chief Minister Matritva Suraksha Yojana’. To provide medical care to the people of Delhi, the BJP announced to implement the Central Government’s Ayushman Bharat Yojana to provide free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh, with the state government providing an additional Rs 5 lakh cover for all low-income households.
As per the BJP’s manifesto, those aged 70 years and above would receive free OPD and diagnostic services as well as free treatment up to Rs 10 lakh. The party also vowed to increase the pension for senior citizens aged between 60 and 70 years from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500 a month and the pension of senior citizens aged more than 70 years, widows, divyang and destitutes from Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000.