PANAJI
The BJP on Tuesday became the latest political party to offer freebies to voters, assuring to provide three domestic LPG cylinders annually, while also promising to restart mining within six months of coming to power and turning the state economy into a $50 billion powerhouse.
The manifesto which was unveiled by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways in Panaji, also promises affordable housing for deserving housing and turning Goa into an international football destination, while assuring that State taxes on petrol and diesel would be frozen for three years. The manifesto also promises to increase the old age pension provided under the Dayanand Social Security Scheme to Rs 3,000 per month.
“We will provide three free LPG cylinders to every household in Goa to ease the burden on the homemakers of the state… We shall not increase the state duties on petrol and diesel for the next three years,” the BJP manifesto states.
“We will, through our constant efforts, propel Goa to a growth trajectory that will enable the state to become a $50 billion economy in the next 10 years,” the manifesto states.
“We will establish a brand new International Football Stadium and Football Academy with a world renowned coach in the state and host the FIFA U-20 World Cup in the upcoming years,” it adds.
“Within six months of returning to power, we will start mining in the state through the Goa Mineral Development Corporation and auction of iron ore blocks through transparent leasing and by following the due process of law,” the manifesto further states.
The manifesto also promises to provide good quality housing for all Goans over the next five years by providing home loans for deserving families at an interest rate of 2 percent for women and 4 percent for men and developing and providing residential plots.
Speaking at the manifesto unveiling event, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the party was committed to its manifesto, adding that 80 per cent assurances made in past manifesto’s had already been fulfilled by the party’s governments.
"We are committed to our manifesto. We have completed 80 per cent of the previous manifestos and we have released the report card. I'm saying this because there are a lot of political parties which have come to Goa and are coming out with their own manifestos. Our double engine sarkar is committed to bringing this manifesto to fruition," Sawant said.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari who was present at the occasion however said that Sawant would come to power, while claiming the promise made by the Congress in its manifesto to cap price of petrol and diesel at Rs. 80 was no longer relevant at a time when vehicle engines were gearing for flex options.
"Only the BJP can give a stable government. And because of this stability of the last ten years we were able to do more development in ten years than was done in the previous 50 in Goa," the Union Minister said.
"Congress has promised to make petrol 80. In the coming days all the engines will be flex engines that can work on both petrol or biofuel or blended fuel. Toyota and others have agreed to install flex engines. This means that making petrol 80 will have no meaning because no one will want to buy fuel," Gadkari said.
"Diesel buses will be converted to CNG through retro-fitting. It will benefit both the transporters and the environment. CNG costs Rs 40 a litre, the Congress promise is only to mislead the people. I'm happy you have promised to make Goa carbon neutral," the Union Minister further said.
