NEW DELHI: India began a nine-stage month-long election on Monday even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the front-runner, finally released its manifesto, delayed over reported differences among leaders about how much Hindutva to pack to deliver it a victory next month.

Contrary to earlier expectations of an economic development driven agenda, the BJP has gone back to its core Hindutva issues of cow protection, commitment to Ayodhya Temple, a uniform civil code opposed by Muslims, and declaring Kashmir as non-negotiable.

Pakistan is named in the context of cross-border terrorism and the need to deal with it firmly.

“Jammu and Kashmir was, is and shall remain an integral part of the Union of India,” the BJP said as polling booths opened in parts of Assam and the communist-ruled tribal state of Tripura.

“The territorial integrity of India is inviolable. The BJP will pursue an agenda of equal and rapid development in all the three regions of the state — Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.”

The prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi did not take any questions as has been his wont during the run-up so far.

The BJP promised the “return of Kashmiri Pandits to the land of their ancestors with full dignity, security and assured livelihood”.

It reiterated its stand on the Article 370, a special status for Kashmir which the BJP wants to be withdrawn. The party “will discuss this with all stakeholders and remains committed to the abrogation of this article”.

The manifesto spoke of foreign policy in terms of creating “a web of allies to mutually further our interests”, a reference thought to be directed at befriending China's Asian adversaries such as Japan and Vietnam. “We will leverage all our resources and people to play a greater role on the international high table.”

India has a sensitive neighbourhood and there are internal security issues, the BJP said.

“There have been intrusions inside the LAC (Line of Actual Control on the China border), loss of squadrons of combat aircraft by the air force, witnessing of a series of accidents by the Navy, leading to a loss in its combating capability built over many decades, communal riots, Maoist attacks, increase in incidence of Pakistan-backed terror groups in India, illegal immigration across the eastern border, and racists’ attacks in the national capital.”

The BJP said all these were indications of surrendering of India's interest. “This calls for a review and overhauling of the current system.

With the financial situation worsening, the issue of national security can acquire a horrifying dimension.”

There were tears for the Muslims. “It is unfortunate that even after several decades of independence, a large section of the minority, and especially Muslim community continues to be stymied in poverty,” the rightwing Hindutva party observed. “Modern India must be a nation of equal opportunity. BJP is committed to ensure that all communities are equal partners in India's progress, as we believe India cannot progress if any segment of Indians is left behind.”

The Congress party, smarting over a string of electoral losses in recent elections to the BJP, said BJP’s claim to protect Muslims was like Dracula running a blood bank.