BJP repeats ’07 promises in manifesto

The party released an unified manifesto for the three new corporations — North,South and East — on Sunday,though new promises in it are far outnumbered by those repeated from the 2007 poll manifesto. Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Vijay Malhotra,party’s Delhi unit president Vijendra Gupta,national secretary Arti Mehra and other senior leaders were present at the event.

The seven-page manifesto promises to build a medical college in North Delhi,reclaim landfill site after treating waste; a social security card for rickshaw-pullers,auto drivers,daily wagers,servants,industrial workers et al; a master plan for a synchronised drainage system across the city; and an assured sum of Rs 5,000 for the girl child when she completes Class V.

“In this manifesto,we have presented our heart to the people of the city. It has been made with a lot of emotion,determination and will power. We have fulfilled every promise and will continue to serve the people when we come to the power again,” said Gupta.

Other promises in this manifesto,however,look identical to those made before the 2007 polls. Provisions for parking facility,better civic amenities and subsidised facilities to inhabitants of JJ clusters,resettlement colonies and slums,regularisation of unauthorised colonies,punctual distribution of pensions,construction of better roads and free modern public toilets seemed directly lifted from the old manifesto.

BJP leaders,meanwhile,took a dig at the Congress for fragmenting the roles of the civic body. “The Delhi government has meted out step-motherly treatment to us. The departments like water and sewage,which they snatched from the civic body,are lying in a pathetic state. They have no right to ask for votes. After destroying the nation and the city,they want to ruin the civic body,” said Malhotra.

The manifesto also boasts of the promises fulfilled in their five-year tenure. E-governance,imposition of no new taxes,construction of civic centre,mid-day meals,online submission of property tax,hike in senior citizens’ pension,formation of residence welfare committees under every ward and citizen charter have been listed as the major achievements.

As per the civic record,however,E-governance has not been completely implemented yet in each department. The distribution of pensions to the elderly got delayed last year,while under the citizen charter,MCD has not levied a single penalty if a service has been denied or delayed.