– Aribam Bishwajit
Raising the bar for the battle for Manipur, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday promised to establish the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Manipur if voted to power.
Releasing the election manifesto at Classic Grande, Imphal, BJP national president JP Nadda also highlighted the achievements of the BJP-led coalition government in the state.
“Manipur has seen a sea-change in the last five years under the dynamic leadership of N Biren Singh Ji and his dynamic members. All of them have done a wonderful job. And I can say with confidence that Manipur has seen a sea-change as far as development is concerned,” Nadda boasted.
Maintaining that the BJP is committed to empowering all sections of the society, focusing on infrastructure, health, and education, the BJP supremo said: “The BJP Manifesto, unlike that of other political parties, is not just a piece of paper, but the commitment of the BJP for the next five years.”
The party is committed to protecting the integrity of Manipur and the indigenous identity of Manipur, the BJP national president underlined.
Some of the key commitments made by the BJP in its manifesto include the establishment of Manipur Skill University, free scooty for meritorious college-going girls, free laptops to meritorious students passing class 12th examination, and an incentive of Rs 25,000 for girls from economically weaker sections and backward sections under the Rani Gaidinliu Nupi Maheiroi Singi scheme.
The manifesto also promised to establish the Loktak Mega eco-tourism project and Fo-Fo train service to boost tourism. Moreover, cash incentives and subsidies for the homestay owners to generate 1 lakh employment opportunities in the state. In a bid to woo the voters, the party has also promised to increase the monthly pension for all senior citizens from Rs 200 to Rs 1000.
Assuring a considerable leap of development in the coming times, the BJP chief said: “Manipur has undergone from instability to stability. From insurgency to peace. From divisive politics to united Manipur. We had seen fake encounters, and now there is the rule of law.”
Earlier, Manipur was at the height of the drug menace. Now, the state is committed to zero tolerance to the drug menace. Manipur was once synonymous with commission and corruption. Today, it is good governance in Manipur. Then, Manipur was known for blockades and bandh; now, it is known for development, peace, prosperity, and coming forward.”
Manipur CM N Biren Singh, state BJP president A Sharda Devi, Union Minister of State RK Ranjan, MP Leishemba Sanajaoba, BJP Manipur in-charge Sambit Patra national, and state party leaders attended the manifesto releasing function.
The first phase of the Manipur Legislative Assembly election will see 38 seats vote on 28 February, while the remaining 22 seats will cast their ballots on 5 March.
