Modi talks against freebies - BJP uses same to woo voters in MP
The bharatiya janata party (BJP) in madhya pradesh is offering numerous freebies that could drain the State's exchequer, all in anticipation of the upcoming elections for the State assembly later this year, which stands in stark contrast to prime minister Narendra Modi's repeated criticism of the practice of political parties offering freebies. Even though Modi has repeatedly "warned" people about the "revdi" culture, calling it "very dangerous" for the advancement of the nation in non-BJP States, it may seem ironic that his own party officials are promising freebies during elections.
However, when the bjp announces such programs with an eye towards the elections, as is the case in madhya pradesh, they are referred to as empowerment projects. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the chief minister of the state where the upcoming assembly elections will take place, promised to increase the amount to Rs. 3,000 in the future while also transferring Rs. 1,000 into the bank accounts of more than 1.25 crore women as part of the 'Ladli Behna Yojana', a program to financially support women in the State, on june 10. The programme will increase the exchequer's annual burden by a staggering Rs. 12,500 crore.
However, when the bjp announces such programs with an eye towards the elections, as is the case in madhya pradesh, they are referred to as empowerment projects. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the chief minister of the state where the upcoming assembly elections will take place, promised to increase the amount to Rs. 3,000 in the future while also transferring Rs. 1,000 into the bank accounts of more than 1.25 crore women as part of the 'Ladli Behna Yojana', a program to financially support women in the State, on june 10. The programme will increase the exchequer's annual burden by a staggering Rs. 12,500 crore.
Chouhan has been concentrating on women because 2.61 crore of the total 5.41 crore voters are female and because they could be a key factor in determining the fate of all political parties. Freebie announcements by the bjp prior to elections are not new. The bjp pledged three free LPG cylinders for low-income women, bicycles and scooters for female students, and financial aid of Rs. 25,000 to all expectant women during the himachal pradesh assembly elections last year.
Along with subsidised edible oil, the Gujarati government, where the bjp still holds power, provides households with two free LPG cylinders each year. The bjp made a number of pledges even during the karnataka elections in May, including giving all BPL families three free cooking gas cylinders each year. The bjp made similar promises in its goa platform, promising to give every home three free LPG cylinders, 33 percent female hiring preference, and women-only police stations in every taluk. In Uttarakhand, it committed to providing a corpus fund of Rs. 500 crore and a monthly stipend of Rs. 500 to women heads of every disadvantaged family, respectively.
Along with subsidised edible oil, the Gujarati government, where the bjp still holds power, provides households with two free LPG cylinders each year. The bjp made a number of pledges even during the karnataka elections in May, including giving all BPL families three free cooking gas cylinders each year. The bjp made similar promises in its goa platform, promising to give every home three free LPG cylinders, 33 percent female hiring preference, and women-only police stations in every taluk. In Uttarakhand, it committed to providing a corpus fund of Rs. 500 crore and a monthly stipend of Rs. 500 to women heads of every disadvantaged family, respectively.