Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi is going to hold a press conference in Mumbai today amid the Maharashtra election campaign. Apart from Rahul Gandhi, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu will also be present in this press conference to be held at 11 am.
Apart from this, Deputy CM of Karnataka DK Shivakumar has also been called in the press conference. Rahul Gandhi along with 2 state CMs and 1 Deputy CM will respond to the allegations leveled by PM Modi on November 1.
Modi then wrote in a post on X – Congress is now realizing that it is easy to make false promises, but difficult or impossible to implement properly. Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana – The pace of development and financial situation are deteriorating.
Congress leaders from three states were also summoned to Mumbai to respond to the PM's allegations. Congress is involved in Maha Vikas Aghadi, an opposition alliance in Maharashtra. While releasing the MVA manifesto, Rahul promised to give Rs 3,000 to the women of Maharashtra and Rs 4,000 to the youth.
PM's 5 accusations against Congress regarding election promises
- PM wrote on November 1 – Congress keeps making promises to people through constant campaigning, which they can never fulfill. Now they are completely exposed to the public.
- The so-called guarantee of the Congress has remained unfulfilled, which is a terrible betrayal of the people of these states. The victims of such politics are the poor, youth, farmers and women, who are not only benefiting from these promises, but their current schemes are also being undermined.
- Congress party in Karnataka is busy with internal party politics and looting instead of development. Not only this, they will also withdraw the existing plans.
- Government employees in Himachal Pradesh are not paid on time. Farmers in Telangana are waiting for the promised loan waiver.
- Earlier in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan he had promised some allowances which were not implemented for five years. There are many examples of how Congress works.
Khadge started politics on an election promise… Understand in 3 points
- At an event in Bengaluru on October 31, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that we should make promises that can be fulfilled. Otherwise, the next generation will be left with nothing but infamy. Khadge said- I have told Maharashtra Congress that we should not declare 5, 6, 10 guarantees. We should do it on a budget basis.
- After this the PM replied, to which Kharge retorted. Khadge said that lies, deceit, fraud, looting and propaganda are the names that describe your government. Khadge wrote on X that on May 16, 2024, PM also claimed that you have taken inputs from over 2 million people for the 2047 roadmap. RTI filed in PMO exposed your lies and refusal to provide information.
- Kharge said that in BJP 'B' stands for betrayal, while 'J' stands for jumla. Your drumming plan regarding 100 days was just a show. Modi ji, before pointing fingers note, Modi's guarantee is a cruel joke with 140 crore Indians.
Know what is the issue of freebies, SC has also given notice
A hearing was held in the Supreme Court on October 14 on promises of free schemes by political parties before the elections. A bench of CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Mishra issued a notice to the central government and the Election Commission.
Karnataka's Shashank J Sridhar in the petition has sought to declare promises of free schemes during elections by political parties as bribes. The Supreme Court has also demanded that the Election Commission should stop such schemes immediately. The court merged today's petition with the earlier petitions for hearing.
The petitioner said, 'Political parties are not telling how they will complete such schemes. This adds untold burdens on the government exchequer. This is a fraud on the voters and the constitution. Therefore, immediate and effective measures should be taken to prevent this.
2 main petitions in Supreme Court…
October 2024: Petitioner Shashank J Sridhar says – freebies should be treated as bribes Petitioner Shashank J Sridhar's counsel Balaji Srinivasan raised the matter before a bench of CJI DY Chandrachud on Monday (October 14). He said that political parties promising free schemes during assembly or general elections are considered bribes or inducements for votes under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
January 2022: BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay files a PIL BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay had approached the Supreme Court against the free schemes. In his petition, Upadhyay appealed to voters to stop giving freebies or promises of free gifts by political parties to voters during elections. It has been demanded that the Election Commission should revoke the recognition of such parties.
What has happened in the Supreme Court so far? A three-member bench headed by former Chief Justice NV Ramana began hearing the freebies case in August 2022. The bench also had Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice Hima Kohli. Later the then Chief Justice UU Lalit heard the case and now CJI DY Chandrachud is hearing the case.
The Election Commission said – you should decide the definition of free schemes yourself During a hearing in the Supreme Court on August 11, the Election Commission had said that it was not within the powers of the Election Commission to regulate the policy adopted by parties on freebies.
It is a policy decision of political parties whether to promise freebies before elections or after elections. Taking any action without making rules in this regard will abuse the powers of the Election Commission. Only the court should decide what is a free scheme and what is not. After this we will implement it.
related to freebies…
Govt should bring white paper on freebies: tell people its pros and cons, says former RBI governor
Government needs to bring a white paper on freebies given by political parties. Former Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) D. Subbarao said this about six months ago. In an interview given to PTI, the former governor said, 'It is the responsibility of the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make people aware of the advantages and disadvantages of these free gifts.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
