Streetlights, sewer cleaning in BJP’s 11-point manifesto

Two days after AAP released its vision document for the MC poll, the BJP today released its manifesto for the upcoming elections in Jalandhar on Monday.

Alleging that the Congress tenure was full of corruption, BJP leaders said the probe into smart city scam was unlikely to yield results now as Congress leaders, who perpetrated it, have joined AAP. AAP was protecting the culprits of the scam.

The key promises in the BJP’s 11-point manifesto titled “Jalandhar da vishwas, jitthe Modi otthe vikas”, included cleaning of sewage pipelines in Jalandhar, removal of overhanging electricity wires and replacement with underground wiring, streetlighting, road safety, stringent fogging to prevent disease, cleaning of drains, clean drinking water, provision of rainwater harvesting projects, environment conservation, etc.

BJP leader KD Bhandari, addressing a press conference, blamed the previous Congress tenure and its leaders for the poor state of civic amenities in the city. Bhandari was accompanied by leaders Ashok Sarin, Amarjit Singh Sarna, Rajesh Kapoor and Amit Bhatia.

Bhandari said, “Including the former Mayor, the key Congress leaders and councillors responsible for the smart city scam have joined AAP.

While the MC tenure under former BJP mayors saw much progress in the city, things have been going from bad to worse ever since the Congress came in. The AAP, too, had done nothing to address the situation during its 2.5 year tenure in the state. AAP now is only interested in protecting the leaders responsible for the smart city scam after many of them joined it. AAP, therefore, can’t be banked upon to carry out a probe into smart city scam.”

While the press conference was to be addressed by party’s Punjab affairs in charge Vijay Rupani, he couldn’t mark his presence at the event due to a meeting. The core committee meeting of the party also took place following which prominent expulsions were announced.

The BJP has traditionally been the party most vocal on the charges against the Congress and AAP regarding the Smart City scam in Jalandhar. However, ahead of the MC poll, the party’s criticism has been less loud on the issue. It repeatedly raised the issue ahead of the Jalandhar bypoll, the Lok Sabha elections, the Jalandhar West bypoll among other occasions. In January this year, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal had written to Hardep Puri, then Union Minister for Housing and Urban Development, seeking inquiry and action against those guilty in the alleged Rs 1,000-crore Smart City scam in Jalandhar.

On this, Bhandari responded, “We have talked to the high command on the issue and it will be taken up with Khattar Sahib (Union Minister for Power and Housing and urban Affairs) that the matter be investigated by a central agency.”

District general secretary Ashok Sareen said, “The probe is already pending with the Vigilance Department. In the name of the inquiry, the entire record has been kept in their custody. As long as the record is with them, other agencies like the CBI, etc, cannot investigate it. The BJP won’t spare the corrupt. But, presently, we can’t bypass the federal system.”

The 11 promises in BJP manifesto

Removal of overhanging electric wires and ensuring underground electrical wiring

Ensuring streetlights, elimination of dark zones

Removal of dangerous speed-breakers and installation of safe ones, including master plan for traffic

Larvicide and fogging campaign to prevent disease spread

Cleaning of drainage system, permanent solution for rainwater accumulation and projects for rainwater harvesting and 24X7 clean water supply

Tree plantation and landscaping, over 50,000 new saplings to be planted

Special campaign for environment conservation, eliminating garbage dumps

Dog shelter home and gaushala projects to prevent accidents caused by stray dogs and cattle

Single window system for clearance of commercial and residential maps

Revamp of religious, cultural places, special arrangements for elderly at festivals, fairs

CCTV cameras to prevent accidents and increase surveillance