AAP’s welfare model vs BJP’s labharthi: Kejriwal eyes dividends in freebies fight | Political Pulse News,The Indian Express
A political pushback is playing out, with Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal taking the lead in framing a counter to the PM's pitch, even as the AAP has also moved the apex court to oppose the PIL.
The debate on populist schemes and freebies, sparked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on “revdi” culture last month, has been raging, with the Supreme Court, hearing a PIL on “irrational subsidies”, calling for a dispassionate evaluation of the issue.
At the same time, a political pushback is playing out, with Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal taking the lead in framing a counter to the PM’s pitch, even as the AAP has also moved the apex court to oppose the PIL.
Hours after Modi’s speech at a function on July 16, where he said “attempts are being made to collect votes by distributing free revdis (sweets)”, Kejriwal hit back, saying “I am being accused of distributing free revdis, I am being subjected to abuse.”
While making the comment, Modi had not taken any name. However, sensing that the PM’s words offered an opportunity to challenge the BJP dispensation squarely on terms where the latter does not enjoy a monopoly, Kejriwal was the first off the blocks from the Opposition camp in joining issue with him.
The AAP believes that the ruling BJP has a formidable narrative on religion, caste, social mobility, which have far too many takers at the moment for any party to offer a compelling counter, but there are areas where its discourse is not as effective.
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