On March 31, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman released the BJP's manifesto for the Assam assembly elections, outlining promises including protection of land, heritage, and the dignity of indigenous people, as well as a Rs 5 lakh crore infrastructure investment.
The BJP's manifesto, titled "Sankalp Patra," includes 31 promises, such as recovering encroached land from "Bangladeshi Miyas," implementing the Uniform Civil Code, and creating employment opportunities for youth.
The manifesto pledges to protect the land, heritage, and dignity of Assam's indigenous people by implementing the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950, to expedite the detection and deportation of illegal immigrants.
The BJP also promises to strengthen legislative protections to preserve the civilization, heritage, and rights of the people of Assam by implementing the UCC, excluding the Sixth Schedule and tribal areas, to ensure the rights of ethnic communities.
The manifesto pledges to "free every inch of land from encroachment by illegal immigrants and provide land rights to all genuine citizens of Assam" under the 'Mission Basundhara' scheme.
The manifesto also assures people that the BJP, if it returns to power in Assam, will free the encroached land parcels of Satras, Namghars, Devalayas, and other places of worship.
The BJP will also formulate an effective law to end the "Love Jihad" menace and take firm measures to tackle the "Land Jihad" menace, the party's manifesto states.
The party promises to invest Rs 5 lakh crore to position Assam as India's eastern gateway, backed by the Asom Gati Shakti Master Plan, to ensure the timely completion of road, air, water, and railway projects.
The saffron party also promises to actively pursue the central government to implement the recommendations of the Group of Ministers (GoM) for scheduling six communities – Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Adivasis & Tea Tribes, Chutia, Moran, and Matak – while safeguarding the constitutional, social, and economic rights of existing Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities.
The BJP also pledges to urge the Centre to consider including seven communities – Bishnupriya Manipuri, Bhar or Rajbhar, Newar, Bhujel, Sabar, Satnami, and Kiran Sheikh – in the central list of Other Backward Classes, in line with their existing recognition in the state OBC list.
It also promises to work towards granting constitutional status to the autonomous councils of the Mising, Rabha, Sonowal Kachari, Thengal Kachari, Deori, Tiwa, and Boro Kachari tribes.
The party also assures people of inclusive development and land security for tribal and indigenous communities by protecting tribal belts and blocks and implementing the Forest Rights Act, 2006, in letter and spirit.
The BJP promises to ensure the holistic development of Tea Tribe communities by providing land pattas to all eligible tea garden families, ensuring Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana houses, providing Rs 75,000 to land pattas beneficiaries with existing houses for repair and maintenance, and ensuring a wage increase to Rs 500 in a phased manner.
The party also promises to constitute a Tea Tribes Wage Reform Expert Committee to assess wage structures and ensure wage enhancement, implementing 'Pradhan Mantri Cha Shramik Protsahan Yojana', and take steps to promote orthodox, specialty, and flavored teas to capture global markets and stable prices for bought leaf.
It also pledges to launch the 'Badh Mukt Assam Mission' with an investment of over Rs 18,000 crore to mitigate the recurring floods in the state.
The BJP will also provide 2 lakh government jobs and create more entrepreneurial opportunities through various schemes while increasing the financial benefit to women beneficiaries under the 'Orunodoi' scheme to Rs 3,000 from the present Rs 1,250 in a phased manner.
In the health sector, the party promises to invest Rs 50,000 crore to position Assam as India's premier hub for world-class health infrastructure and enable advanced cancer treatment through proton therapy.
The BJP will launch the 'One District, One University' initiative and ensure comprehensive coverage of medical and engineering colleges in each district to enhance quality higher education in Assam.
The party also pledges to strengthen income security for farmers by expanding the 'Mukhya Mantri Krishi Sa Sajuli Yojana' coverage to PM-KISAN beneficiaries, ensuring annual support of Rs 11,000 for every eligible small and marginal farmer.
The BJP will also launch the 'Asom Krishi Unnayan Abhijan' to modernize and strengthen agricultural market infrastructure and supply chain management.
Building on the state's rapid economic growth since 2016, the party aims to double the economy to USD 150 billion by 2031 and scale it to USD 300 billion by 2036.
Sitharaman said before the release that the manifesto was prepared on "a decade of transformation of the state, which the Congress could not achieve in 60 years".
"The Congress had no focus on long-term development of the Northeast," she alleged.
Massive development has taken place under the BJP rule in the state, the finance minister claimed, adding that "many young Assamese are leaving their careers abroad and returning to Assam, not out of compulsion but due to opportunities".
"Peace has been restored in Assam by the BJP," and the development is possible only when there is stability, she said.
"Assam lived with AFSPA for 32 years due to Congress policies, but the BJP ensured that the law was removed from most states," she added.
Among those present on the occasion were Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union ministers Sarbananda Sonowal and Pabitra Margherita, state BJP president Dilip Saikia, national vice president Baijayant Panda, state cabinet ministers, and other senior party leaders.
Polling to 126 assembly constituencies in the state will be held on April 9, while votes will be counted on May 4.