Cong’s Minimum Income Promise a Gimmick: Yogi Joins BJP Leaders

Rahul Gandhi outlined the details of his minimum income guarantee scheme, labelling it NYAY – Nyunatam Aay Yojana.

On 25 March, Gandhi outlined the details of his minimum income guarantee scheme, labelling it NYAY – Nyunatam Aay Yojana.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

A day after after Congress President Rahul Gandhi announced an outline for the 'NYAY' minimum income guarantee scheme, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday, 26 March, termed the Congress' minimum income scheme a poll "gimmick".

“Earlier too the Congress party had given the slogan of ‘garibi hatao’. The announcement of a minimum (annual) wage of Rs 72,000 (too) is nothing but a gimmick,” said Adityanath, addressing a “Vijay Sankalp Rally” in Gorakhpur.

On 25 March, Gandhi outlined the details of his minimum income guarantee scheme, labelling it NYAY – Nyunatam Aay Yojana.

“I promise that there will be justice for the poor. The Congress guarantees that 20 percent families belonging to poorest of the poor category in India will be given Rs 72,000 each annually,” Gandhi announced.

‘Many Slogans, No Implementation’

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley then hit back saying that "no political party has betrayed India for more than seven decades other than Congress."

In a blog on Facebook, Jaitley accused the Congress of giving the people "many slogans but very little resources to implement them."

"This announcement is an admission of the fact that neither Indiraji nor her son and certainly not the UPA Government controlled by her descendants, was able to remove poverty. The Congress in general and the Gandhi family in particular, since ‘Garibi Hatao’ slogan was given, has ruled India for more than two-third of that period. If it has failed to even address poverty during this period, why should India believe it?"

Jaitley also took a sarcastic dig at the Congress, saying that the party’s “internal” economist has said that there will be no additional burden on the fiscal deficit.

‘Congress’ Record Shows It’s Anti-Poor’

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also slammed the Congress, saying that it was showing a “false dream” to the country with its minimum income guarantee scheme.

“We thought poverty had been removed but nothing happened. Rajiv Gandhi was PM, he said I send Re 1 from Delhi and only 15 paise reaches villages. This showing of false dream to the people of India, is not going to cut any ice because the Congress record of 55 years has always been anti-poor,” Prasad told ANI.

Congress’ Announcement

Addressing the media after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meet in New Delhi, Gandhi on Monday said, “People ask me what would be the minimum income line, the line would be Rs 12,000 a month.”

He added that the the party has studied the fiscal implications of the scheme and has consulted renowned economists and experts before finalising it.

“People have suffered in the last five years. We will give justice to them… All calculations have been done. There is no such scheme anywhere else in the world… It is an extremely powerful, ground-breaking and well-thought through idea. We have consulted many economists on the scheme.”

‘Happy It’ll Benefit Women’

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra welcomed Rahul’s poll promise of minimum income guarantee as a scheme, which, when implemented, will empower women.

BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, who is rumored to join Congress, called the scheme a “masterstroke” and that it had “rattled” some people.

Swaraj India President Yogendra Yadav, praising the proposal, also raised some questions about it.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI)