Fast track courts for sacrilege incidents, free power up to 300 units, 33 per cent reservation for women in the police force, debt waiver for farmers having up to five acres of land are among many promises made by the BJP and its allies PLC and SAD (Sanyukt) for the February 20 Punjab Assembly polls.The BJP is fighting the assembly polls in alliance with former chief minister Amarinder Singh-led Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa-led Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt).
An 11-point ‘Sankalp’ (pledge or commitment) document was released here on Friday as the BJP and its alliance partners seek to form the next government in Punjab after the assembly polls.Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, PLC chief Amarinder Singh, SAD (Sanyukt) chief Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Punjab BJP president Ashwani Kumar Sharma and general secretary Subash Sharma were present on this occasion.
Puri said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will ensure peace, safety and security of Punjab and its people besides all-round development with “sabka sath, sab ka vikas” if it comes to power.
He said the state, unfortunately, had “fared badly” and needed strong and supportive leadership to revive its past and lost glory.Puri said all the commitments made will be fulfilled in a time-bound manner, within two years of the formation of the government.He further said each and every word in the ‘Sankalp’ will be implemented in letter and spirit.
Punjab BJP chief Sharma said there will be “zero tolerance” on the issue of sacrilege incidents and asserted that special task force and fast track courts will be set up for such incidents.He also promised relief of Rs 5 lakh to each family of the victims of terrorism during the “dark days” of militancy and also announced the setting up of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for redressing the grievances of the families of the terrorist attack victims.
According to the 11-point ‘Sankalp’ document, the NDA has promised 300 units of free power for everyone and Rs 3 per unit after consuming more than 300 units, while power for micro, small and medium enterprises will be charged at Rs 4 per unit and at Rs 5 for the rest of the industry.
