BJP reaches out to Delhi voters with promises

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday came out with a set of promises, focusing on Delhi-specific issues, to woo voters in the national capital ahead of May seven Lok Sabha polls.

The compilation of the promises, released by the party's Election Campaign Committee Chairman Vijay Kumar Malhotra, vows to take steps for multi-purpose identity cards for citizens, reconstitution of MCD, measures to improve law and order situation and cleaning of river Yamuna among others.

"The multi-purpose identity cards are vital in the current security scenario. Through the scheme, illegal Bangladeshi and Pakistani immigrants can be detected," Malhotra, Opposition leader in the state assembly, said in New Delhi.

The cards will add up as a document which will enable the citizens to avail government services and facilities, he said.

Accusing the ruling Congress of not approving projects of MCD, controlled by the BJP, he said the municipal body needs to be reconstituted, particularly for grant of a separate Corporation for the trans-Yamuna area.

"Also important is to have people's participation in civic administration and management at the ward level. If voted to power, the party will see the necessary provision will be brought about," Malhotra said.

Terming Yamuna as "lifeline of this ancient city", former Lt-Governor of Delhi Vijay Kapoor, who was also present on the occasion, charged the Congress government with failing to restore the river, "which is now no better than a drain".

"The BJP government will give the Clean Yamuna Project a completely new orientation and achieve the results in a time bound manner," he said.

The BJP also tried to score some political scores by attacking the Shiela Dixit-led government for "unsatisfactory" progress of projects ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

"The government has formed so many committees but there is no co-ordination between them resulting in delay of the projects," Malhotra said.

He also raised the fee hike issue, saying "middle class cannot afford the high fees charged by the schools and parents have no alternative but to discontinue the study of their children".

The BJP, which lost six of the seven seats in Delhi in the 2004 elections, is projecting local issues in the hope that it may turn the tide this time around.