PM Modi warns against ‘freebie’ culture in Madhya Pradesh ahead of polls

Bhopal: PM Modi came down heavily on what he said ‘ freebies’ being offered by the opposition in Madhya Pradesh where the assembly polls are due later this year.

In what appears to be the rival blocks’ war of sorts with freebies, the ruling BJP announced a slew of schemes which were readily termed as ‘freebies’.

The ruling front offered a ₹ 1,000 monthly allowance for women and ₹ 2,000 biannually for farmers as well as Hindu pilgrimage for the elderly, according to NDTV.

Subsequently, the opposition Congress came out with more alluring schemes including free drinking water and electricity.

PM Modi was launching the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Eradication Mission 2047 in Shahdol district when he called out the Opposition’s freebies, saying ‘ family centric’ parties are making false promises.

Alongside attacking ‘ dynastic parties’ , Modi said given the old rivalry among them, the Opposition cannot guarantee unity, and added that people facing graft charges and out on bail are partnering with those ‘ convicted of scams’.

‘Beware of false (poll) guarantees being given by family-centric parties, including Congress. Such people have brought schemes of guarantees, though they don't have their own (political) guarantee,’ the Prime Minister was quoted as saying.

PM Modi warned that promises such as free power, travel, pensions, cheaper petrol and job will come with hidden costs alongside consequences.

Taking on the Opposition, he said free electricity will make electricity more expensive, similarly free travel will destroy transport services in the future, raising pension will trouble paying salaries on time.

Adding further he said, ‘ Guaranteeing cheap petrol means they are readying to take money out of your pockets by hiking taxes and guarantee of increased employment means they'll come with policies which will ruin industries and businesses in the future," PM Modi said.

Meanwhile PM Modi took time off to praise his government’s schemes such as Gareeb Kalyan Yojna which offered free ration to more than 80 crore people , free treatment to 50 core poor under Ayushman Yojana , Ujjawala scheme that offered smoke-free cooking to 10 crore women and Mudra Yojana, the self-employement scheme, to 8 crore people.