BJP manifesto not for separate Telangana state

The shifting of 100 tmc of Godavari water to the Krishna basin, the completion of major irrigation projects in the state as part of the river linking programme, ensuring 12 hour power supply to the agriculture sector are some of the important issues touched upon by the election manifesto of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released on Tuesday.

Even though the BJP has termed 'development' as its main agenda for the ensuing elections, the party has also raised issues which are close to its heart like enacting a law on conversions, prohibition of selling endowment lands and closing down the Al-Kabir mechanised slaughter house.

While promising the electorate to strive hard for the optimum utilisation of Godavari water for the irrigational needs of Telangana, it has suggested shifting of 100 tmc of Godavari water to Krishna basin for local irrigational needs. "By doing this, surplus water from Srisailam reservoir can be diverted to the backward Rayalaseema district to take up the projects like Handri-neeva, Galeru-nagari in that region," the manifesto added.

On several issues the BJP manifesto has more or less followed the thinking of TDP, its electoral ally in the state. Completely abandoning its earlier stand in favour of separate statehood for Telanagana, the BJP has in an alternative suggested a special development package for the backward mandals in the state.

The preamble of the manifesto has been dominated by the issues of foreign origin of Sonia Gandhi, peace and naxal issues in Telangana and the activities of Pakistan's ISI and other Muslim terrorist outfits in the state and elsewhere.

Subscribing to the argument of Telugu Desam, the BJP manifesto has termed the naxal violence as a serious threat to development and democracy.

The manifesto however favoured the resolution of the problem through the resumption of talks with naxals. The ruling TDP has ruled out any talks with naxals until such time that naxal groups shun violence and surrender their weapons.

Pointing out the fact that the state government's borrowings had already reached Rs 60,000 crore, the manifesto suggested maintaining restraint with regard to further borrowings and instead taking austerity measures in governmental expenditure. The manifesto has nothing much to offer for the industrial development of the state.