BJP promises Brand India, and Modi good governance

Prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Monday promised to provide "good governance" if the BJP wins the Lok Sabha election even as his party pledged to build "Brand India".

Speaking after the release of the BJP's election manifesto soon after the staggered Lok Sabha election began, Modi said the BJP's aim was to provide a "strong and united India" which would enjoy the world's respect.

"There will be zero tolerance on this issue," Modi said, his voice a little hoarse from the many election speeches he has been giving all over the country.

"If I have to summarize our manifesto in two words, I will say: good governance and development."

The Gujarat chief minister promised never to do anything for himself as prime minister and that he "will do nothing with a sense of revenge".

Formally releasing the much-delayed manifesto, party leader Murli Manohar Joshi said the document focussed on improving the country's economy and infrastructure, ending policy paralysis and curbing corruption.

"We have chalked out a plan to improve the economic situation in the country in the manifesto," the former party president said, flanked at the BJP office by senior leaders.

"We need to build a Brand India," said Joshi.

Blaming policy paralysis of the Congress-led UPA governance for rising unemployment, corruption and black money, Joshi said the country needed a strong leadership.

"Price rise and inflation have been troubling people for months? The problems of unemployment, black money and corruption have arisen as policy paralysis has gripped the country," Joshi said.

"The system needs reform," he added.

Joshi said the Bharatiya Janata Party welcomed foreign direct investment in all sectors barring multi-brand retail.