'Secular' Features Twice In 'Maha Vikas Aghadi's' CMP: Know What More It Focuses On

The CMP has focused on subjects like farmers' issues, unemployment, health, industry, social justice, women safety, education, urban development, tourism art and culture.

Shiv Sena Party leader Uddhav Thackeray (R) confers with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar during a joint meeting. (PIC/AFP)

Mumbai (Maharashtra): Hours before the swearing-in of Uddhav Thackeray as Maharashtra CM on Thursday,  the NCP-Congress-Shiv Sena alliance known as 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' released its much anticipated Common Minimum Program (CMP). The CMP was announced at a joint press conference by Shiv Sena Legislature Party Group leader Eknath Shinde, NCP Legislature Party Group leader Jayant Patil, NCP National Spokesperson Nawab Malik and Congress Legislature Party Group leader Balasaheb Thorat. The CMP has focused on subjects like farmers' issues, unemployment, health, industry, social justice, women safety, education, urban development, tourism art and culture. The word “secular” appears twice in the preamble of the CMP which was said to be a thorny issue for the Shiv Sena that is a proponent of 'Hindutva'. The preamble of the three parties' Common Minimum Programme states: "The alliance partners commit to uphold the secular values enshrined in the Constitution. On contentious issues of national importance as well of state importance especially having repercussions/consequences on the secular fabric of the nation, the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress will take a joint view after holding consultations and arriving at a consensus". To ensure proper implementation of the CMP, there will be two coordination committees - one within the state cabinet and another among the three alliance partners

Common Minimum Program of 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' (NCP-Congress-Shiv Sena alliance): Immediate assistance & loan waiver for farmers. Crop Insurance Scheme to be revised to ensure immediate compensation to the farmers who have lost their crops. https://t.co/wahSgBmsXw

— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019

Here's what the Maha Vikas Aghadi's Common Minimum Program has promised

• According to the CMP, farmers are set to be granted immediate loan waiver while construction of sustainable water supply system will be initiated for the drought affected areas. Prompt assistance to farmers suffering due to unseasonal rains and floods, revising the crop insurance scheme to ensure farmers who have suffered crop losses get immediate compensation, ensuring remunerative prices for farm produce.
• The process of filing all the vacant posts in the state government shall be initiated immediately.
• As per the CMP, women's safety will be top priority for the government.
• Girls from economically weaker sections will be given free education, it said.
• To improve roads in the urban areas a scheme on the patterns of the Chief Minister Gram Sadak Yojna will be implemented
• Fellowship will be provided for educated unemployed youth.
• In the field of health, On Rupee Clinic will be launched at the Taluka level facilitating all pathological tests.
• The CMP also promises wholesome meals for only Rs 10 for common citizens.

Speaking about the CMP, Eknath Shinde said, "There will be a compulsion & a law will be enacted to ensure 80 percent reservation for locals in the existing & new companies". "The Nanar Refinery Project and bullet train project will be taken up in our Cabinet meeting which will be held later today, he added.