KOLKATA :  The BJP  released its election manifesto, ‘Sankalp Patra’, for the West Bengal Assembly polls, promising a Rs 3,000 monthly allowance for women and unemployed youth, implementation of a Uniform Civil Code within six months, and a policy to “detect, delete and deport” alleged infiltrators if it comes to power in the state.

While unveiling the manifesto in Kolkata, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said women and unemployed youth in West Bengal would receive a monthly assistance of Rs 3,000 each after the BJP forms the government in the upcoming Assembly elections.

The saffron camp, however, has accused the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government of bribing voters through its women’s social security scheme ‘Lakshir Bhandar’, which provides Rs 1,500.

Under the existing schemes, beneficiaries receive Rs 1,500 through ‘Lakshir Bhandar’, while unemployed youth aged between 21 and 41 are given Rs 1,500 under the ‘Yuva Sathi’ scheme.

When asked about the Chief Ministerial candidate, Shah said a BJP government in Bengal would not interfere with the state’s food habits and clarified that the manifesto does not mention any restrictions on beef consumption. He also said that a Bengali would be the BJP’s Chief Minister in the state.

“Consumption of fish and eggs will not be stopped. This is a negative campaign against BJP by the Trinamool Congress,” Shah said.West Bengal is among the few states in India where beef is legal; in most states, only buffalo meat is permitted. 

After unveiling the manifesto, Shah reiterated the party’s stand on infiltration, alleging that the Trinamool Congress government is indulging in appeasement politics for its minority vote bank.He said a BJP government would adopt a policy of “detect, delete and deport” against alleged infiltrators.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a poll rally in Haldia in East Midnapore district on Thursday, also accused the Mamata Banerjee government of turning Bengal into a “factory of infiltrators” for vote bank politics. Escalating his attack, he said that infiltrators would be expelled from the country.

The manifesto also promises the setting up of the Seventh Pay Commission for state government employees within 45 days of assuming power. Shah further said that a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) would be implemented within six months of the BJP coming to power in the state.

“The recommendation for the uniform civil code is not of the BJP. It is of the Constituent Assembly,” Shah said, claiming it remained unimplemented for decades because of “appeasement politics”.

“It was because of appeasement politics that the UCC was not implemented for so long in the state. We have implemented them in BJP-ruled states, and we will do it in Bengal too,” he said.

 Shah also dismissed speculation over purported videos of Aam Janata Unnyan Party (AJUP) chief and former expelled Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir, allegedly released by the ruling party, in which a person resembling Kabir claims proximity with BJP leaders to split minority votes.

 “Humayun Kabir and the BJP are at two opposite poles. Rather than having an understanding with such a party, we would prefer to sit in the Opposition for 20 years,” Shah claimed. He added that the Sankalp Patra would guide farmers, youth and women, giving them a new direction.