INDIA'S ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) promised on Monday (8) to reserve 33 per cent of seats in the Indian parliament and state assemblies for women if it returns to power in an election due to begin on Thursday (11).
"Women's welfare and development will be accorded a high priority at all levels within the government, and the BJP is committed to 33 per cent reservation in parliament and state assemblies through a constitutional amendment," the manifesto said.
The party also pledged to simplify the goods and services tax (GST), which disrupted businesses and hurt economic growth when it was introduced by prime minister Narendra Modi's government in 2017.
BJP also said that it would remove decades-old special rights for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, making an election promise that could provoke a backlash in the country's volatile only Muslim majority state.
"Nationalism is our inspiration," prime minister Narendra Modi said at the release of the BJP's election manifesto at the party headquarters in New Delhi.
Modi's BJP has consistently advocated ending Kashmir's special constitutional status, which prevents outsiders from buying property in the state, arguing that such laws have hindered its integration with the rest of the country.
"We believe that Article 35A is an obstacle in the development of the state," the BJP manifesto said, referring to the 1954 amendment to the constitution.
Voting in the general election begins this week but, with around 900 million people eligible to vote, the polls will be held around the country over coming weeks, and the votes will be counted on May 23.
Modi has made his strong stance on national security, a key part of the BJP's election campaign.
The manifesto also seeks to counter voter discontent over a lack of jobs and low farm incomes, which have resulted in protests across the country.
The BJP promised a capital investment of £1.10 trillion on infrastructure by 2024, to help create jobs for the millions of youth entering the workforce every year.
The party would work towards lowering the tax rate and raise credit to small businesses to £11.02 billion by 2024, it further said in the manifesto.
(Reuters)
A protestor is detained by the police during a demonstration against the proposed site of the new Chinese Embassy, outside Royal Mint Court, in London. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso. 
