Freebies or welfare? First test for BJP in Himachal, Gujarat | Political Pulse News,The Indian Express
As Congress, AAP make promises to voters, BJP announces cycles, Scootys, free LPG cylinders; calls it empowerment, not allurement
In its ‘Sankalp Patra’ for Himachal Pradesh, released last Sunday, the BJP announced that if it returns to power in the state, girl students from classes 6-12 will get cycles while those pursuing higher education will get Scootys. The party also promised free LPG cylinders for women in BPL families, Rs 25,000 for pregnant women, etc.
Ahead of the Gujarat poll announcement, the BJP government in the state announced two free LPG cylinders under the PM’s Ujjwala scheme. It is yet to release a manifesto in the state.
The BJP national leadership, which was in Shimla to launch the party Sankalp Patra, justified the promises, saying these are “not freebies but measures to empower women”. However, in private, they admit “a thin line separates welfare measures and freebies” — an argument that the Opposition has forwarded.
A top BJP leader said, “Freebies are those things you can do away with… (like) waiving loans or electricity bills.” On the contrary, he said, cycles and Scootys will empower girls and women.
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