Narendra Modi unveils BJP's Gujarat manifesto

Ahmedabad, Dec 3: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today released BJP's manifesto for the state Assembly elections, saying that it iwas a blueprint for development of all sections of the society.The party's manifesto promises to address the problems of urban and rural housing, water, irrigation apart from resolving farmers' issues.In it, Modi has promised to define a new category of “neo-middle class,” those who have grown above the poverty line but still do not come in the category of middle class. Modi said his government will form various schemes to benefit this class who need a helping hand. “Due to development in Gujarat in the last ten years, there has been substantial rise in this neo-middle class. We want to address their issues,” Modi said. Seemingly to counter the Congress' poll promises of providing clothes and houses at an affordable rate to rural and urban poor respectively, the BJP manifesto promises to construct 50 lakh new houses in the next five years. Congress' promised scheme of low-cost housing had gained huge response from the people and thousands had queued up in urban and rural areas to get the forms distributed by the party. However, when asked if his manifesto promise of making 50 lakh houses was in reply to the opposition party's scheme, Modi said many parties like Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and JD (U) have also released their manifestoes.“Before the last elections, we had promised 20 lakh houses and before this polls, we are promising 50 lakh houses,” he said. The manifesto focuses on growth in agriculture, increasing employment, improving health facilities and cheap housing for the poor. Modi said the document was a commitment and the state would touch new heights if the BJP was voted to power for the third consecutive year.The party has promised greater job opportunities for more than 30 lakh youths of the state if voted back to power."We will set up new super specialty hospitals, provide safe drinking water, develop agro infrastructure and provide jobs opportunities to women," Modi told reporters. Modi is confident about getting a third term as the chief minister, and said his government would provide loans to farmers at cheap rates."Fifty lakh houses will be constructed in the next five years and free houses will be provided to poor people in the state," he said.Gujarat will vote Dec 13 and 17. The votes will be counted Dec 20.The Congress is likely to release its manifesto Tuesday.