By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
New Delhi: Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) is at double speak yet again. Hindi version of the BJP manifesto doesn’t mention Urdu Promotion and removing encroachments from Wakf properties.
In order to make better prospects for prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, party has tried to present what many saying very liberal manifesto, although there are allegations that many points have been copied from the Congress manifesto.
Bhartiya Janata Party’s English manifesto promises “preservation and promotion of Urdu” and “taking steps to remove encroachments from and unauthorised occupation of Waqf properties,” but the two promises find no place in the Hindi manifesto while talking about equal opportunities to the minorities.
Both English and Hindi manifestos talk of empowering Waqf Boards in consultation with religious leaders, but the commitment ends there in the Hindi copy of the manifesto with no word about the Waqf properties’ encroachments and unauthorized occupations.
After long delay and criticism, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finally released its manifesto on Monday that talks of both ‘unity and diversity’ as well as the uniform civil code.
It is interesting that the main-opposition party that may come to power if all the ‘waves’ and ‘opinion polls’ are to be believed, has termed the part on Muslims as “Minorities – Equal Opportunity.” It says that the party “believes that in India’s ‘Unity in Diversity’ lies India’s biggest strength,” and “cherish the depth and vibrancy that the diversity in Indian society adds to the nation.” The BJP, it says, is “committed to the preservation of the rich culture and heritage of India’s minority communities; alongside their social and economic empowerment.”
It is the same party that in 1998 talked of “One Nation, One People and One Culture.” Desperate for power, the party wants to create the façade that does not gel well with its own track record, and recently giving tickets in UP to those accused of inciting communal frenzy and the ‘revenge’ remark of the party’s UP Incharge Amit Shah.
Like all parties, BJP too is talking of education and jobs for Muslims, particularly girls, without “discrimination;” Madrasa modernization programme, encouraging entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly in small-scaled cottage industries, empowering Waqf boards, preservation and promotion of Urdu and facilitate the setting up of a permanent Inter-faith Consultative mechanism to promote harmony and trust, under the auspices of religious leaders.
But the biggest surprise is that it will “ensure a peaceful and secure environment, where there is no place for either the perpetrators or exploiters of fear.”
Deceitful manifestoes: Promises of major parties to Muslims