Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) manifesto for the upcoming assembly elections in Jharkhand, pledging to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state while exempting tribal communities from its scope. The manifesto, titled “Sankalp Patra,” outlines a broad array of promises focused on economic development, employment, and social security, with assurances to protect tribal rights and address issues of displacement, illegal immigration, and regional safety.
Speaking at a rally in Ranchi, Shah reassured voters that the UCC, if implemented, would not infringe upon tribal rights, customs, or legislation. He accused the incumbent Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) government of spreading “false propaganda” about the UCC’s potential impact on tribal culture. “Our government will introduce UCC in Jharkhand, but tribals will be kept out of its ambit. Hemant Soren and the JMM government are spreading baseless rumors that UCC will impact tribal rights and culture,” Shah said.
The manifesto addresses unemployment with a promise to create 5 lakh jobs, including 2.87 lakh government positions. Additionally, the BJP committed to establishing a Displacement Commission to ensure proper rehabilitation for individuals displaced by industrial projects and mining operations. Shah also announced plans to tackle the Sarna religious code issue, with a pledge to “deliberate and take appropriate decisions” in consultation with Jharkhand’s tribal communities.
Amit Shah’s speech also targeted illegal immigration, vowing to implement strict measures to curb infiltration in Jharkhand. The BJP promised to introduce legislation aimed at reclaiming land from alleged “infiltrators” and deporting undocumented immigrants, whom Shah claimed were a threat to the indigenous population’s “land, daughters, and food.” The manifesto includes a plan for “Operation Suraksha,” a strategy to eradicate human trafficking in Jharkhand by 2027, alongside a renewed commitment to eliminating Naxalism within two years.
Shah accused the JMM administration of fostering illegal immigration, which he argued is leading to significant demographic changes in the state. “Crimes against women rose by 29 percent, while rape cases surged by 42 percent under the corrupt and insensitive Hemant Soren government,” Shah claimed.
The BJP manifesto outlines ambitious goals in education and healthcare. The party pledged to make Jharkhand a hub for eco-tourism and promised to expand access to healthcare by building 10 new medical colleges and increasing the capacity of primary and community health centers with 25,000 additional beds. The Ayushman Bharat Jeevan Dhara Yojana coverage for the elderly would be doubled from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh if the BJP is elected.
For education, Shah announced that girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds would receive free schooling from kindergarten through post-graduate levels. Financial aid of Rs. 2,000 would also be available to graduate and postgraduate students for up to two years. Additionally, the manifesto promises to re-launch the property registration scheme for women, allowing them to register property worth up to Rs. 50 lakh for a nominal Re 1 stamp duty.
The BJP also pledged extensive welfare schemes to support vulnerable groups. If elected, the BJP government would provide elderly individuals, widows, and people with disabilities with a monthly pension of Rs. 2,500. Under the “Gogo-Didi” scheme, women would receive a monthly allowance of Rs. 2,100 for empowerment and economic support. For expecting mothers, the manifesto outlines plans to distribute six nutritional kits and financial assistance of Rs. 21,000 under the Matritva Suraksha Yojana.
The manifesto underscores the BJP’s commitment to improving infrastructure in Jharkhand, with promises to build 25,000 kilometers of highways and expand the state’s rail network to connect every district with the capital, Ranchi.
Shah accused the JMM-led administration of corruption, asserting that a BJP-led government would initiate CBI and SIT investigations into incidents of exam paper leaks, which have marred several competitive exams in the state. The manifesto also promises to cancel the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission-Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) exams and subject previous exams to a thorough CBI investigation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his support for the BJP’s manifesto, emphasizing the party’s commitment to Jharkhand’s development. “Our manifesto is about development, employment for the youth, and empowerment of the women of the state along with the respect for tribal brothers and sisters,” Modi posted on social media platform X.
The elections for Jharkhand’s 81-member assembly will be conducted in two phases on November 13 and 20, with votes counted on November 23. In these elections, the BJP is campaigning to unseat the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance government led by Hemant Soren, alleging widespread corruption, failure to address rising crime, and a lack of support for Jharkhand’s indigenous communities.
(Inputs from PTI)
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