BJP releases poll manifesto, promises Constitutional safeguards

BJP Ladakh UT president and MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal and other party leaders releasing party’s poll manifesto at Leh on Tuesday. -Excelsior/Morup Stanzin
BJP Ladakh UT president and MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal and other party leaders releasing party’s poll manifesto at Leh on Tuesday. -Excelsior/Morup Stanzin

Rijiju addresses meetings in Leh

Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Oct 13: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has promised Constitutional safeguards to Ladakh under Sixth Schedule of Indian Constitution to protect the land, jobs and environment by focusing Ladkah’s unique linguistic and ethnic identity.
This promise was reiterated in party’s poll manifesto released at Leh today by BJP UT president and MP, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal in presence of other senior leaders of the party.
He said the Apex Body during their meeting with Union Home Ministry last month has also been given an assurance in this regard. The party also promised that it will work for speedy amendment of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Act to improve the work culture of LAHDC and UT Administration and the party has already submitted the memorandum for the amendment in the Act in this regard.
Reiterating party’s commitment to the women empowerment, the manifesto read that reservation of the women in politics is a prime objective of BJP. It assured delimitation of councilor constituencies as per population, area and backwardness of the constituency.
The BJP reiterated its commitment of including Bhoti language in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution besides, promised to make Ladakhi, Bhotim Shena, Balti and Dadri as official languages of UT of Ladakh and creation of posts for Bhoti language teachers in the UT.
The manifesto while promising establishment of new administrative units in UT of Ladakh said that if voted it will accord district status to Zanaskar, Nobra, Sham, Changthang, Drass and Suru Sankoo besides, subdivision, block, Naibats, tehsils and Pathwari Halqas will be established and delimitation of Panchayats and revenue Nambardars will be made.
The Party manifesto showed its commitment to early completion of Zojila Tunnel, tunnels connecting Nimo-Padum-Darcha with Shinkula , Taglangla, Khardugla and Lahchu Lungla tunnel, construction of Circular Road to Nubra via Hanu-Turtuk, introduction of proper traffic system in and around Leh town, early completion of Leh Airport to International level, speedy completion of already sanctioned Railway connectivity to Ladakh and fast track work on the ongoing rural road connectivity.
The party manifesto promised improvement , upgradation and expansion of Tele connectivity with high speed Internet service to all villages and hamlets through mobile/Cellular towers, VSAT and INMARSAT.
The party also pledged to improve education and student related issues by implementation of New Education Policy of India in Leh district, early establishment of sanctioned Central University of Ladakh, strengthening of ongoing University of Ladakh, making Deemed to be University Central Institute of Buddhist Studies fully functional, establishment of IGNOU Centre for Distance Learning, early establishment of already sanctioned Medical College, sanctioning of Engineering College at an earliest, construction of Library in every Panchayat Halqa, Common Facility Centre in every Panchayat Halqa, full establishment of sanctioned National Institute of Sowa Rigpa and full establishment of Institute of Hotel Management.
The manifesto pledged to grant 100 percent employment opportunities to Ladakhis by creating job opportunities for local youth on fast track basis, besides filling up of 6471 vacancies. It promised to boost the agriculture by taking up various pro-farm initiatives like setting up of village Level Farm Societies, implementation of Mission Organic Development Initiative (MODI) in each and every village, easy loans to women self help groups and village level cooperative societies, implementation of Polycarbonate Green House for Winter blocks, sea buckthorn cultivation at large scale , establishment of food processing units in different blocks and creation of market for milk, hay and vegetable products.
In the field of Sports, BJP has assured to develop the sports infrastructure in the UT by establishing world class multipurpose sports stadium at every block level and Multipurpose sports Field / ground in every village besides establishment of sanctioned Ice Hockey rink for every block.
In the Health Sector party has promised a class medicare facilities in Ladakh by establishing All India Institute of Medical Sciences in the region, upgradation of health centers and health insurance to each household under Ayushman Bharat Scheme.
The BJP further promised 24×7 electricity supply to Changthan , Nubra and Zanaskar through Northern Grid, energy generation for electricity by Solar, Wind , Geo-thermal, Hydro at vast level and establishment of 9x2MW Hydro Project at Dha.
The party made a commitment to protect the environment in the Himalayan region by trimming of river Indus, Shayok, Siachen and Suru with the construction of parks at river side under river beautification project, fully concrete protection of river and stream sides, relocation of waste management set up, construction of new children park and recreational center and promotion of eco friendly factory set ups.
The manifesto assured early establishment of sanctioned Jal-Jeevan Mission for drinking water supply to households and early establishment of sanctioned drainage system within Municipal limits. The party further said that it is pledged to work for Sabka Saath , Sab Ka Vikas and Saab Ka Vishwas.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of Sports, Kiren Rijiju who is campaigning in Leh for last two days today reiterated that BJP will provide Constitutional guarantees to Ladakh region for safeguarding its ethnicity, culture, language, land and jobs.
Addressing the election meetings in Wanla , Limayuru, Basgo and Upper Leh Constituencies today, he said as Modi Government fulfilled the aspirations of the people of Ladakh by granting UT status to the region, likewise it will also settle all other demands including grant of constitutional guarantees to the UT.
He said people of Ladakh should trust the BJP and Prime Minister, Narendra Modi whose desire is the development of all backward and far-flung areas of the country so that they should not lag behind in any way. “BJP is for the holistic development of Ladakh region so that the people of this hilly belt can compete with any developed city of the country”, he added.
Rijiju appealed the people to strengthen the hands of PM Modi by ensuring the victory of BJP candidates in the ensuing LAHDC, Leh elections to ensure speedy development of the UT.
The local leaders and candidates of the respective constituencies also addressed the meetings.