Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Chief Mayawati on Tuesday, 29 January, hit out at Congress President Rahul Gandhi's poll promise of minimum income guarentee, by calling it a “fake promise like gareebi hatao.”
“Is this promise also a fake one like ‘Gareebi Hatao’ and current government’s promises on black money, 15 lakh and achhe din? Both Congress, BJP have failed, and proved to be two sides of the same coin.”Mayawati, BSP Chief to ANI
Rahul Gandhi on 28 January, announced that his party would ensure minimum income guarantee for every poor in the country if it comes to power after the Lok Sabha polls due in April-May.
Addressing a rally in Chhattisgarh, he accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP of trying to create two Indias – "one of the Rafale scam, Anil Ambani, Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya, Mehul Choksi and the other of the poor farmers.”
'The New Garibi Hatao’
Soon after the announcement, Twitter erupted with reactions, with people likening the Gandhi scion’s announcement to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s poll promise to eradicate poverty in 1971.
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram termed party president’s announcement “historic”, saying it will mark a turning point in the lives of the downtrodden.
"We will explain our plan in the Congress Manifesto," he said. Chidambaram has been made the chairman of Manifesto Committee of the Congress for 2019 polls.
The Congress leader said "the poor in India have the first charge on the resources of the country and the party will find the resources to implement the promise of Rahul Gandhi".
‘Gandhi Has Pipped Modi’
Twitter users also claimed that Gandhi has made the announcement earlier than Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, who were reportedly mulling the move.
Senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai wondered if the announcement was “competitive populism” and whether politicians would consider such announcements if it weren’t for upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Some expressed that if 10 percent quota for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) was possible, then minimum income guarantee could also be implemented.
However, Twitter user Nitin Pai pointed out that the minimum income guarentee scheme would need a huge amount allocated to it, assuming it is Rs 1,200 per adult.
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