Hyderabad, Nov. 19: The BJP aims to implement its saffron agenda in Telangana if voted to power in the state.
From Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to implementation of ban on cow slaughter and from scrapping reservation for backward Muslims to deportation of Rohingyas, the party has made many promises in the manifesto for November 30 Assembly elections.
The manifesto promised a Uniform Civil Code to ‘consolidate and harmonize various personal laws.’
“The BJP government to be formed would constitute a committee to bring UCC in Telangana which will implement Uniform Civil Code within six months,” Union Home Minister Amit Shah said while releasing the manifesto.
“We will create a Uniform Civil Code Committee to prepare an implementation roadmap to bring in the Uniform Civil Code across the state of Telangana. A Committee of experts will be setup to examine the relevant laws regulating personal civil matters of the residents of Telangana and to prepare draft law/laws or suggest changes in the existing laws on the subject that includes marriage, divorce, property rights, succession/inheritance, adoption, maintenance, custody and guardianship,” says the manifesto. It also intends to bring in a law that will prohibit the practice of polygamy and polyandry among public servants.
The saffron party has also promised to scrap reservation enjoyed by some socially and economically backward sections of Muslims in education and government jobs in the state.
“We will abolish unconstitutional religion-based reservations and increase reservation for OBCs, SCS and STS,” says the manifesto.
Backward sections among Muslims currently enjoy a four percent quota in the state in education and government jobs. It was the Congress government headed by Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in united Andhra Pradesh which had introduced reservation for backward Muslims by creating a separate group BC(E).
The saffron party, if voted to power, will also impose a complete ban on cow slaughter. Offenders found guilty will attract punishment with imprisonment not less than three years but may be extended to seven years or with a minimum fine of fifty thousand rupees per cattle which may be extended to five lakh rupees or with both through an act similar to the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020.
BJP has promised to officially commemorate September 17 as Hyderabad Liberation Day.
It was on this day in 1948 that then Hyderabad State merged with the Indian Union following military action ‘Operation Polo’, popularly known as police action.
It has also promised to observe August 17 as ‘Razakar Horrors Remembrance Day to pay homage to the martyrs of Bairanpally and Parkal’.
Razakars were the private militia under Nizam’s rule which were opposed to Hyderabad State’s integration with the Indian Union.
The BJP also stated in its manifesto that it will build a memorial and museum to ensure that the struggle and sacrifice are given due recognition. “We will document the struggle against the oppressive rule of Nizam and the atrocities of Razakars,” said Shah.
The BJP manifesto also claims that Hyderabad has become a hub for religion-based radicalisation and illegal immigration. Stating that many terrorist operations and activities have linkages to Hyderabad, it promised to deport Rohingyas and illegal immigrants. It will also create an Anti-Radicalisation Cell to ‘identify and eliminate potential threats, and sleeper cells of terrorist organisations and anti-India forces.’
Police stations where there have been instances of radicalisation in the past will be operated by specially trained personnel. 24×7 monitoring and awareness campaigns will be conducted with community participation.
The manifesto also talks about ‘grooming’. “BJP on assuming office will take adequate measures to control the increasing cases of targeted grooming by creating robust mechanisms at a community level both in villages and cities. The perpetrators of grooming will be meted out with severe punishment,” it says.
The BJP, if voted to power, will also introduce free Ram Mandir and Kashi Yatra for senior citizens.