The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday(Ram Navami) released it’s manifesto in Delhi. The manifesto is so well and inclusive that it has made BJP’s chances of winning the Lok Sabha elections 2009 brighter. While there is so much for the poor people in this manifesto, even middle class is happy with it because of new tax limit that the party has promised. The party has promised to fulfill Gandhiji’s wish of banning cow slaughter across India.

Following are the major promises in the populist manifesto.

The party promised in its manifesto to waive agricultural loans and provide 35 kg of rice or wheat at Rs.2 per kg for all families below the poverty line (BPL).

-All BPL families to get 35 kg of rice or wheat every month at Rs 2 per kg. This will be available against Food Coupons redeemable both at PDS and private outlets.

-Ensure farm loans at a maximum interest rate of 4 percent.

-Waive agricultural loans.

-Introduce a Farm Income Insurance Scheme through which both price and produce will be insured.

-Irrigate 35 million hectares of additional farmland within five years.

-Initiate special schemes for the urban poor, such as loans at four percent interest to poor vendors.

-Set up a Workers Bank to provide a safety net for unorganised sector workers.

-Revise minimum wages and ensure strict implementation of the Wages Act.

The party also promised to build one million houses for the poor every year. There is also a promise to provide bicycle to school-going girls in Below Poverty Line families:

The party said it would raise the slab of tax exemption of salaried class to Rs three lakh per annum. For women, the limit would be Rs 3.5 lakh per annum.

The BJP’s manifesto also promised to retrieve Indian money stashed abroad.

BJP sought to reach out to the armed forces promising them exemption from income tax and introduce ‘One Rank, One Pension’ scheme. They also promised a separate pay commission for the armed forces.

BJP manifesto promises promotion of alternative sources of energy and interlinking of rivers.

The BJP said it would bring down interest rates on housing loans to make urban housing affordable and give complete tax exemption to citizens above the age of 60.

The BJP will exempt all armed forces and paramilitary personnel from Income Tax if voted to power, the party said while releasing its manifesto on Friday for the Lok Sabha elections. In another populist promise, it said it would exempt individuals with an income of up to Rs 3 lakh per year from Income Tax.

The party said it would enact a “strong law” like POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) to counter terrorism and also strengthen coastal security.

The fencing of the Indo-Bangladesh border which was on the backburner will be taken up earnestly. The Chhattisgarh model of fighting Naxalism will be replicated across the country.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reiterated that it was “committed” to building a Ram temple in Ayodhya.

On the issue of Sethusamudram, a shipping channel to link India’s eastern and western coasts that the BJP is opposed to on grounds that it would destroy a chain of limestone shoals in the Palk straits that it dates back to the Ramayana, the BJP spokesperson said the party would not “allow anyone to touch it”.

The BJP has also said it would stop cow slaughter as it was an issue associated with “faith”.