In muscular manifesto, BJP shuns global retailers

Giving high priority to revival of growth and job creation, BJP on Monday promised to contain inflation, pursue tax reforms and promote foreign investments but said no to FDI in multi-brand retail.

Released by top BJP leadership, the party's election manifesto accused the Congress-led UPA government of unleashing 'tax terrorism and uncertainty' and engendering 10 years of jobless growth.

The BJP promised to set up a Price Stabilisation Fund to check inflation, ensure fiscal discipline and pursue banking sector reforms to deal with the problem of rising bad loans.

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"The country has been dragged through 10 years of jobless growth by the Congress-led UPA Government. Under the broader economic revival, BJP will accord high priority to job creation and opportunities for entrepreneurship," it said while unveiling the road map for the future.

With regard to the agriculture sector, the manifesto promises to create a single 'National Agriculture Market' and increase public investment in the farm sector.

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Referring to taxation, it said, "The UPA government has unleashed 'Tax terrorism' and 'uncertainty', which not only creates anxiety amongst the business class and negatively impacts the investment climate, but also dents the image of the country."

Promising tax reforms, BJP said its tax policy roadmap include focus on a non-adversarial and conducive tax environment, overhaul of the dispute resolution mechanisms, bringing on board all state governments in adopting GST (Goods and Services Tax) and provision for tax incentives to promote investment.