Direct cash transfer scheme a 'bribe to voters': Kejriwal

Says the scheme may end up in stopping "some leakages" but is not desirable on several counts

PTI | November 29, 2012



Land acquisition and corruption will be among a string of issues to be highlighted by Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which on Wednesday described the UPA government's decision to launch direct cash transfer scheme as a "bribe to voters".

After a two-day meeting of AAP's National Executive which took several decisions about future plans, Kejriwal also said the expose on corruption will continue even as it will target price rise and power issue in the national capital.

Commenting on the cash transfer scheme, he said the scheme may end up in stopping "some leakages" but on several counts it is not desirable.

"The timing is questionable. This is a way of giving bribe to voters," he told reporters when asked about the government's decision to launch its new flagship programme of direct cash transfer from January 1 next year.

Though it would stop some leakages, he said the decision raises several questions.

He said the rationale is wrong in ending public distribution system and giving cash to people. "You end ration and give them cash. This does not take into account price rise," he said.

On the issues to be taken by his party, Kejriwal said land acquisition, corruption, ensuring fair price for farmers, labour issues, including that of contract labour, will be high on priority. "In Delhi, we will raise price rise and power related issues," he said.

Kejriwal said the party will form district committees in 337 districts of the 15 states by January 26 and committees at state-level by mid-February. The formation of district committees will be taken up after January 26.

National Executive member Gopal Rai said from December 10, the party will reach out to every household in the capital seeking their response on various issues. "We will start our Jan Sampark programme from December 10," he said.

The National Executive also formed a Political Affairs Committee in which Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, Yogendra Yadav, Illyas Azmi, Gopal Rai and Prashant Bhushan are members.

It also decided that Sisodia and Anand Kumar will be the chief spokespersons for the party while Yadav and Kumar will also coordinate with 25 sub-committees which are looking into various subjects.

Comments

 

Other News

General Elections: Phase 3 voter turnout 64.4%

Polling in third phase of General Elections recorded an approximate voter turnout of 64.4%, as of 11:40 pm Tuesday, as per the data released by the Election Commission of India close to the midnight. The trend of lower turnout witnessed in the first two phases has thus continued in this round too.

How infra development is shaping India story

India is the world’s fifth largest economy with a GDP of USD 3.7 trillion today, and it is expected to become the third largest economy with a GDP of USD 5 trillion in five years. The Narendra Modi-led government aims to make India a developed country by 2047. A key driver of this economic growth and

75 visitors from abroad watch world’s largest elections unfold

As a beacon of electoral integrity and transparency, the Election Commission of India (ECI) exemplifies its commitment to conduct general elections of the highest standards, offering a golden bridge for global Election Management Bodies (EMBs) to witness democratic excellence first-hand. It continues foste

‘Oral cancer deaths in India cause productivity loss of 0.18% GDP’

A first-of-its-kind study on the economic loss due to premature death from oral cancer in India by the Tata Memorial Centre has found that this form of cancer has a premature mortality rate of 75.6% (34 premature events / 45 total events) resulting in productivity loss of approximately $5.6 billion in 2022

Days of Reading: Upendra Baxi recalls works that shaped his youth

Of Law and Life Upendra Baxi in Conversation with Arvind Narrain, Lawrence Liang, Sitharamam Kakarala, and Sruti Chaganti Orient BlackSwan, Rs 2,310

Voting by tribal communities blossoms as ECI’s efforts bear fruit

The efforts made by the Election Commission of India (ECI), over last two years, for inclusion of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) communities and other tribal groups in the electoral process have borne fruit with scenes of tribal groups in various states/UTs participating enthusiastically in t

Visionary Talk: Amitabh Gupta, Pune Police Commissioner with Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now


Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter