Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday released BJP's poll manifesto for the Uttarakhand election 2022.

The election manifesto titled 'Drishti Patra', promised 10-year punishment for those indulging in 'love jihad' if it returns to power in Uttarakhand, announced Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

Gadkari assured that the Char Dham Highway will be completed by December 2022. "The development work you have seen in the state is just a trailer," the union minister said.

"There are three important pillars of the manifesto - ethics, economy, ecology and environment," Gadkari said after releasing it.

The manifesto puts renewed emphasis on infrastructure development, tourism, stopping migration, employment generation, empowerment of women, farmers, horticulture and dairy development.

The BJP has also promised to pay Rs 6,000 annually to poor farmers in addition to the amount they get under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, if they are voted back to power in Uttarakhand. 

Under this scheme, a financial remuneration of Rs 6,000 per year is provided to eligible farmer families, payable in three equal installments of Rs 2,000. 

Additionally, the party assured Rs 6,000 to farmers per annum over and above the Rs 6,000 they get at present under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, and Rs 2,000 per month to women heads of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families as well as an additional Rs 1,000 to them to take care of their children.

The BJP promised to provide three free LPG cylinders to the poor in a year in Uttarakhand. A separate fund of Rs 500 crore for women self-help groups and also separate funds of Rs 500 crore each for horticulture and dairy development is also assured in the document.

State BJP president Madan Kaushik, manifesto committee president Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Union minister and party's election in-charge Pralhad Joshi and Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal were also present for the release. 

Image courtesy: PTI