BJP promises new RP, cut in petrol prices, Lokayukta TNN | Feb 20, 2012, 02.01AM IST
PANAJI: The Goa BJP on Sunday released its election manifesto promising to appoint a Lokayukta within 100 days of coming to power, reducing petrol prices by 11 per litre by removing VAT with effect from April 2012 and assuring an allowance of 1,000 per month to housewives to fight price rise. The 11-page manifesto, titled "BJP Goa vision document 2012-2017" and covering 25 sectors, was released at the hands of Ravi Shankar Prasad, former Union minister and general secretary of the BJP in the presence of opposition leader Manohar Parrikar, state BJP president Laximikant Parsenkar, BJP north Goa MP Shripad Naik, manifesto chairman and Mapusa MLA Francis D'Souza and others. Releasing the "vision document", Prasad said that it reflects the BJP's "commitment for change and good governance in Goa." Prasad said the BJP will govern the state on the motto of "development, trust, amity and commitment." On the contentious medium-of-instruction issue, the BJP "assures an amicable solution," which will consider the "sentiments of certain sections of the population." The BJP has also assured that the "regional plan 2021 to be scrapped. A new RP to be made, keeping in mind Goa's identity and clean, green and eco-friendly Goa." In "housing and taxes", the BJP has promised "total abolition of house tax on all dwelling houses of personal use in Panchayat areas. In case of municipal areas, this will be applicable only to dwellings which belong to those who are below poverty line. Panchayat and civic bodies will be compensated accordingly." In "health", the existing Suvarna Jayanti Bima Yojana will be modified to ensure better coverage in private hospitals along with a benefit increased to 2 lakh from the existing 60,000." Under "woman, child and social welfare", the BJP has promised to deposit 1 lakh into the bank account of a girl child on completion of 18 years towards marriage expenses under the "Ladli Laxmi Yojana scheme." While every housewife will get an allowance of 1000 per month to combat price rise, the BJP government will also ensure a fixed price on gas cylinders for five years. DSSS pensions will also be raised to 2000 per month. Differently-abled and senior citizens with chronic illnesses will be entitled to an additional allowance of 500 per month. Under "information technology", the cyberage scheme will be modified so that students in class XI and above procure laptops directly from dealers of their choice. In mining, 60% of the royalty received by the government on mining will be used for infrastructure, developmental projects, agricultural and environmental revitalization in the areas affected by mining. Under "urban and rural development", the BJP promises to make Goa "plastic free within a period of three years" and "garbage management for the entire state within 18 months in consultation with all stakeholders." Parrikar said that the manifesto or vision document is the sum total of his interaction with the people of Goa during his recent 16-day Jan Sampark Abhiyan. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/BJP-promises-new-RP-cut-in-petrol-prices-Lokayukta/articleshow/11955786.cms * * * BJP in Goa promises lokayukta Panaji, Feb 19,2012, DHNS The BJP, which is upbeat about its prospects in Goa after its tie-up with the local Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and a nagging anti-incumbency trailing the Congress campaign, says a Lokayukta will be set up in Goa within three months if given a mandate. Promising to steer clear of “vindictive politics” the party’s chief ministerial candidate Manohar Parrikar said all cases connected to illegal mining would be referred to the Lokayukta for an impartial inquiry. “Certainly action will be taken,” Parrikar insisted, when asked if a Bharatiya Janata Party government would go after Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, if proof was found to link him to mining illegalities. With mining having become such a big issue in Goa in recent months, the Bharatiya Janata Party manifesto released on Sunday by party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad, also promises to channelise 60 per cent of mining royalty on the development of infrastructure and environment rehabilitation in mining zones, and to provide dedicated corridors in constituencies most affected by road transportation of ore. Attempting a return to power after seven years the Bharatiya Janata Party is also promising a slew of sops from a “housewives allowance” of Rs 1,000 to battle inflation, to a cut in petrol prices, abolition of house tax in panchayat areas and a spike in senior citizens’ pensions. Looking to benefit from the disenchantment brewing among Catholics, a large chunk of whom are traditional Congress supporters, the Bharatiya Janata Party is being strategically vague on its education policy which will be crucial to settle the medium of instruction impasse in Goa. Insisting that a BJP government would promote primary education only in the mother tongue, Parrikar said he was open to negotiating with those who wanted grants for English medium. Congress leaders have been warning voters that the BJP might reverse last year’s decision to allow Konkani and Marathi primary schools to switch to English medium. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/228523/bjp-goa-promises-lokayukta.html * * * BJP mum on special status, vague on medium-of-instruction issue TNN | Feb 20, 2012, 02.01AM IST PANAJI: Though the state BJP released an election manifesto that seemingly had a remedy for every Goan ill, analysts pointed out that it lacked two crucial things. There was no assurance that the party would try to secure "special status" for Goa. Second, it was vague on the medium-of-instruction issue in what is being seen as an attempt to woo supporters of English medium in primary schools. Analysts point out that BJP's silence on special status seems strange because new entrant Matanhy Saldanha is a staunch supporter of special status for Goa. When contacted, Saldanha supported the BJP for not mentioning the demand for special status in the manifesto. Said Matanhy, "It is not put because it is not under the purview of the state government. It was put earlier but was later removed because it is a central government issue." But why did the BJP not say it would fight for special status for Goa? Saldanha said that the BJP high command has already approved the demand for special status. " I am there and my fight for special status is permanent. It will figure at least in my election manifesto," Saldanha said. Regarding the MoI issue, the BJP manifesto states thus, "BJP subscribes to the universal scientific principle of primary education in the mother tongue. Grant-in-aid accordingly will be released to primary level schools (1{+s}{+t} to 4{+t}{+h} standard) with medium in regional language." Then the rider, "However, keeping in view the problems faced by a number of schools due to the faulty and legally inferior policy of the Congress government and sentiments of certain sections of the population, BJP assures an amicable solution to the problem." Asked to explain, opposition leader said the BJP did not question the right of parents to decide the medium of instruction for their wards but only whether the government should give grants to English medium primary schools. Parrikar said he would get all stakeholders to the negotiating table and find a solution "without sacrificing the BJP position." http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/BJP-mum-on-special-status-vague-on-medium-of-instruction-issue/articleshow/11955785.cms --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
