NDA agenda targets Sonia

In a major turnaround, the NAG said the Prasar Bharati Act would be reviewed and a comprehensive broadcasting bill enacted to regulate private broadcasting and to protect Indian interests.

8220;We will restrict foreign equity holding in private television broadcasting to 20 per cent and prevent cross holding toavoid emergence of monopolies in the media,8221; it said.

Except for a few changes introduced in the wake of the fall of the Vajpayee Government and the Kargil conflict, almost the entire manifesto, released by Atal Behari Vajpayee today, is a copy of the NAG released in April last year. The NAG has once again put a moratorium on contentious issues like Article 370, uniform civil code and the temple in Ayodhya.

As many as five paragraphs are devoted to Kargil in the introduction of the NAG and the alliance partners promise to increase the Budgetary allocation for Defence needs.

Toppled 8220;without an alternative8221;, the NDA partners promises to take measures for ensuring a fixed term of five years for all elected bodies including legislatures besides replacing the present no confidence motion with the German system of 8220;constructive vote of no confidence8221; which makes it mandatory for the opposition to present an alternative before moving a no-trust motion.

The NAG also promises to provide right offranchise to Armed Forces through proxy voting.

The National Security Council, which was set up to advise the Government on the country8217;s security, will correct the imbalance and Budgetary neglect of Defence needs during the last decades, says the NAG.

The NDA government will take effective measures for eliminating pensionary anomalies and revamp the system of ex-servicemen8217;s welfare as a tribute to those who laid down their lives for the country, it said.

On the issue of corruption, the manifesto said the government would enact the Lok Pal Bill with adequate powers to deal with graft charges against anyone, including the Prime Minister.

A national judicial commission would be set up to recommend judicial appointments in High Courts and the Supreme Court and to draw up a code of ethics for judiciary, it said.

Attempts to build a system of trade and economic cooperation through an expanded global system of trade preferences among developing countries would be strongly supported, it said.

Statingthat NDA was committed to extending the SC/ST reservations for another 10 years, the manifesto said necessary legislative measures would be taken to sanctify reservation percentages, above 50 per cent, as followed by certain states.

It once again pledged to introduce a legislation in Parliament providing for 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

Highlights