In Maharashtra, Common Minimum Programme the focus of both friends and foes  

The word ‘secular’ that finds prominent mention in the CMP announced before Uddhav Thackeray was sworn in as chief minister, indicated a paradigm shift in the country’s politics, agreed political commentators on Thursday. The Shiv Sena had informally indicated that Hindutva had run its course and the party would look at bread and butter issues to run its politics. The CMP indicated the Shiv Sena’s commitment to an inclusive, secular agenda.

Not surprisingly, one of the first questions put to the new chief minister was whether Shiv Sena had turned secular. And a composed Uddhav Thackeray replied that the ena was committed to act according to the Constitution of India.

Congress' Maharashtra leader Sachin Sawant, said in a tweet: "All those from @BJP4India who are harping on and questioning the word "Secular" in the Common Minimum Program of "MAHAVIKASAGHADI" must see what is mentioned in their own constitution."

Along with the tweet, Sawant shared the BJP constitution's Article II "Objective", whose second para reads: "The Party will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established and to the principles of socialism, secularism and democracy and would uphold the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India."

In a response, BJP's national spokesperson Gopal Krishna Aggarwal told IANS that there is "a wide difference in the BJP's and the Congress' concept of secularism. For the Congress, secularism means appeasement of Muslims, whereas the BJP, to the Indian Constitution's sentiments, takes secularism to mean that no one should face discrimination due to their religion".

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."

The CMP focuses on hugely on the burning issues of the farmers, unemployment problems, minorities, downtrodden sections, urban roads and housing, girls and women's issues, besides problems plaguing the industry, health sector and other fields for the overall public benefit in the state.

The CMP was announced at a joint press conference by Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde, NCP's Jayant Patil, NCP national spokesperson Nawab Malik and Congress' Balasaheb Thorat.

Spelling cheers for Mumbaikars, the MVA government said it will provide homes of 500 square feet free of cost to slumdwellers instead of 300 square feet in Mumbai as well as across Maharashtra, under the Slum Rehabilitation Programme, with best infrastructure and basic facilities.

The CMP promises complete loan waiver to farmers as well as setting up of `one rupee clinics' across the state which will provide basic health screening to people.

Sena's most discussed promise during the Assembly poll campaign -- a full meal at Rs 10 -- also figures in the CMP.

To ensure proper implementation of the CMP, two committees - one within the state cabinet and another among the three alliance partners - will be formed for better coordination, they said.

Among the CMP's major highlights are: immediate loan waiver to farmers, prompt assistance to farmers suffering due to unseasonal rains and floods, revising the crop insurance scheme to ensure immediate compensation to farmers who have suffered crop losses, ensuring remunerative prices for farm produce and sustainable water supply schemes for the drought-hit regions.

To address unemployment, the MVA regime will take immediate steps to fill up all vacant posts in the government, enact a law to provide 80 per cent jobs to domiciled locals, and provide fellowships to educated unemployed youth.

For women, girls from economically weaker sections will be given free education, working women's hostels will be built in cities and district headquarters, increased honorarium and better service conditions for anganwadi sevikas/asha workers, strengthening women's Self Help Groups to empower them, while highest priority will be accorded to safety of women by the government.

The government will take steps to improve the standards of education, children of farmers and economically weaker sections will be given zero interest loans, the three leaders said.

For urban roads development, the new MVA government will bring a scheme designed on the Chief Minister Gram Sadak Yojana with separate financial provisions for Nagar Panchayats, Municipal Councils and Municipal Corporations.

For ensuring social justice, the government will take measures on pending questions of the SCs/STs/Dhangars/OBCs/Balutedars, etc so that they are not deprived of basics rights like food, shelter, clothing, education, health, employment, besides schemes to eliminate social, educational and economic backwardness of the minority community, as per the Constitution.

The government will take special steps to develop tourism in the state, increase facilities for senior citizens, and deal sternly with food and drugs adulteration.

The CMP also mentioned revision of crop insurance, appropriate measures to ensure remunerative prices to farmers and development of infrastructure for sustainable water supply to drought affected areas.