Prime Minister Narendra Modi has criticized the Congress Party’s manifesto for the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections, saying that the party has decided to “lock up Bajrangbali.” He accused the Congress of having a problem with Lord Ram in the past and now targeting those who chant “Jai Bajrangbali.” The Congress manifesto equates the Bajrang Dal with the banned outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) and says that it will ban any organizations promoting “enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities.” The BJP has promised to make Karnataka the number one state in the country through the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code, creating 10 lakh jobs in the manufacturing sector, and other initiatives.
The Janata Dal (Secular), the other party in what is expected to be a three-cornered poll fight, has promised a legislation to provide reservation to Kannadigas in the private sector. It has also said that it will push the central government to hold civil services and defence recruitment exams in Kannada too.
The introduction of the National Register of Citizens and the deportation of illegal migrants have been major political issues in India in recent years, with the BJP-led central government pushing for their implementation. The NRC is a register containing the names of Indian citizens and is intended to identify and expel illegal immigrants from the country.
The Janata Dal (Secular)’s promise of legislation to provide reservation to Kannadigas in the private sector is aimed at addressing the issue of job opportunities for locals. The party’s proposal to hold civil services and defence recruitment exams in Kannada is aimed at promoting the use of the local language in government services and ensuring equal opportunities for Kannadigas in these sectors.
