SUDHIR KUMAR / NEW DELHI
BJP has termed as bluff the Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s poll promise of giving Rs 72000 per annum as minimum income to 20 per cent families belonging to the poor section.
Briefing reporters here today, senior BJP leader and Union Minister Arun Jaitley alleged that Congress has a history of giving slogans and betraying people in the name of poverty alleviation.
Mr Jaitley said former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi won the election in 1971 on the plank of ‘gareebi hatao’ but did not take necessary steps in this direction and only believed in redistribution of poverty.
Mr Jaitley listed the benefits being provided by the NDA government under PM Kisan Yojana, MGNREGA and other schemes.
Earlier today, Congress President Rahul Gandhi announced that Rs 72000 will be given annually to the poorest families, if the party comes to power at the Centre.
Addressing media after Congress working committee meeting in New Delhi, Mr Gandhi said, five crore families or 25 crore people will benefit from the scheme.
He alleged that poor people have suffered in the last five years, and Congress will give justice to them.
Mr Gandhi announced that the minimum income guarantee will be Rs 12,000 per month.