#aamadmiparty on BJP Manifesto : BJP do not promise amendments in the Lokpal Bill, which can bring about strong and independent Lokpal

The Aam Aadmi Party is surprised at the unprecedented situation whereby the BJP has released its manifesto on the very day that the country has gone to elections. It seems that the BJP does not regard the North-Eastern states, which are going to polls today, significant enough to give them time to consider their agenda and policies. We are also surprised that the Election Commission gave permission for the release of the manifesto, given the fact that there was no means of regulating that the live TV release was not telecast in regions going to the polls today.

While the BJP pays lip-service to combating corruption and reducing the black economy, it is clear that they are not serious about this agenda. Firstly, they do not promise amendments in the Lokpal Bill, which can bring about strong and independent Lokpal which can effectively curb corruption. Secondly, nor do they promise any electoral reforms which are the starting point for the flow of the black economy. However, we are happy to note that following the lead of the Aam Aadmi Party, the BJP too has talked about moving from a representative to a participatory democracy and empowering Gram Sabhas. The BJP’s manifesto also maintains a silence on the gas pricing issue, and do not give any concrete policies on the transparent and equitable use of natural resources.

However, the most worrying part of BJP’s election manifesto – in line with the recent speeches of their party leaders – is the reiteration of their communal agenda. With the promise rebuilding the Ram Mandir and abrogation of Article 370 in their manifesto the BJP has shown that the agenda of ‘development’ was a short-term farce and that communal and divisive policies are their true agenda.