Thursday, April 6 2006 15:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Highlighting the importance of Hindutva, the BJP manifesto for the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, released today (Apr 06, 2006), promised all efforts for the industrial and agriculture development of the state.

The manifesto, released here by the party's state President C P Radhakrishnan, said economic policies would be tuned in a such a manner that agriculture and industrial development in the state was speeded up.

The manifesto said Hindutva was 'true secularism' and it was 'the real democracy.' If the BJP came to power, then religious equality would prevail. However, it would bring in the anti-conversion law, which was revoked by the Jayalalithaa government last year after bringing in the law, it said.

The manifesto said the BJP would seek all help to build speciality hospitals in various parts of the state so that people were not constrained to rush to the metropolis for treatment.

However, the arrest of the Kanchi seers in the Sankararaman murder case, over which the BJP raised a hue and cry, does not find mention in the manifesto.

Asked about this, Radhakrishnan told sources that BJP was the only party in the state that had condemned the arrests.

"While we strongly condemn the action of the Jayalalithaa government, we also wish to point out that the seeds of this incident was sown by DMK Chief M Karunanidhi," he said adding this was one reason the party wanted people to vote for the BJP as an alternative to the AIADMK and DMK.

Sri Lankan Tamil issue

On the Sri Lankan Tamil issue, the BJP manifesto said it favoured a federal system in the Island republic with equal rights for the Tamils and the Sinhalese.

It said if the BJP came to power in the state, it would take up the matter with the Centre.

While it favoured full implementation of reservation, it was against religion based reservation. It also promised that it would fully implement all benefits that were to be given to the SCs and STs, including fishermen.

The manifesto said it would take steps for linking of rivers and for increasing the height of the Mullaiperiyar dam from the present 136 feet to 152.It would work for obtaining the state's due share of cauvery waters and oppose construction of a dam across the Palar in Kuppam in Andhra Pradesh.

With an eye on the rural vote, the manifesto said it would promote open sale of Toddy like the IMFL (Indian manufactured foreign liquor) was being sold in the state.

After releasing the manifesto, Radhakrishnan said the BJP campaign would focus on the previous Vajpayee government's 'achievements' at the Centre and the 'failure' of the UPA and Jayalalithaa governments.

He described MDMK's alliance with the AIADMK as an 'opportunistic one.' "People are looking for an alternative and we are confident that they will consider us as an alternative to the Dravidian parties."

Replying to a question, he said all parties should cooperate with the Election Commission and follow the rules for the smooth conduct of polls.