Patna: BJP on Tuesday released its manifesto for

Bihar Assembly elections promising a slew of sops for the

upper castes, strict implementation of the ban on cow

slaughter and steps to uplift minorities and other sections.

The manifesto was released jointly by BJP leader M Venkiah

Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister S K Modi and the state party

president C P Thakur here.

The document promised to carry forward the party`s vision

for development and mission for social justice, strengthen

infrastructure and make foodgrains tax free.

Modi later told reporters that if the party won it would

set up an Upper Caste Commission for suggesting measures for

socio-economic uplift of the economically backward among the

upper castes.

BJP would also lay special thrust on removing

encroachments on Waqf properties, launch special programmes

for promotion of education among girls of the minority

community and modernise education provided in madrasas by

linking it with technical education.

Modi said while BJP differed with its ally JD(U) on

ensuring reservation on religious lines as the Constitution

did not provide for it, there would be a common programme of

governance if NDA returned to power.

The manifesto also proposed to tone up the security system

in Bihar by ensuring computerisation of all police stations

for on-line registration of cases.

Modi said single window system would be introduced for

issuing licences and registration.

It also promised to give thrust to promotion of food

processing industries, review BPL lists to include deprived

households, ensure cash transfer of grants to beneficiaries

for poverty alleviation, social forest, dairy and poultry, and

set up small and cottage agro-based industries.

Fast track facility would be introduced for providing

employment to women, besides taking steps for setting up an

university for them and increasing the number of women

polytechnics.

He said special attention would be paid for introduction

of drinking water and sanitation policy in Bihar in the event

of BJP returning to power.

`Ramayan Circuit` would be introduced in Bihar along the

lines of the Buddhist circuit to promote tourism in the state,

he added.

PTI