Devsagar Singh / New Delhi
Retired High Court judge S.N.Dhingra’s PIL filed before the Delhi High Court last week challenging the election promises made by the BJP, AAP and the Congress on the eve of Delhi Assembly polls needs to be debated nationally.
While it is for the judiciary to decide if the promises made in exchange for votes constitute corrupt practices under the Representation of People Act, there is a strong feeling in general that the political parties are crossing all limits of enticing voters and there is an urgent need to cry a halt to it . Pertinently, the PIL specifically highlights AAP’s pledge to provide Rs 2100 per month in direct bank transfers to women voters through the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojna despite the Department of Women and Child Development of the NCT Government denying the existence of such a scheme. According to the PIL this would entail an annual burden of Rs 18000 crore, about 23 per cent of the national capital’s approximately Rs 76000 crore budget.
What makes matters worse is that the political parties are competing with each other to promise pecuniary gains to voters in order to get their votes. The BJP , for example, promised Rs 2500 per month to women voters outdoing the AAP. How can the parties make such promises before coming to power and without explaining to the public as regards the source of their funding? It is, after all, the tax payers’ money and they cannot be taken for a ride by squandering it at will.
There are examples of how irresponsible promises by political parties have landed the exchequer in trouble once the winner began to implement them upon coming to power. The Congress Party in Himachal Pradesh promised to restore old pension scheme (OPS) if it came to power. It did come to power on this promise hardly a year ago , but is now finding it difficult to fulfil it for lack of funds. It is now said to be diverting development funds of the state to feed the pensioners. The Maharashtra Government run by the BJP and allies is reportedly thinking of withdrawing some promises made on the election eve recently for similar reasons. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) which rode back to power recently on promise of direct bank transfer of Rs2500 pm to women voters is in no better shape. Hardly has it made payment for two months and is said to be finding it tough to garner funds for the purpose. The JMM Government is considering approaching the judiciary for release of Central fund on account of royalty on coal and other minerals so that it can pay the promised amount to women voters. As per claims, Rs 1.36 lakh crore is due to Jharkhand from the Centre on coal and other minerals royalty. The Jharkhand government is pinning much hope on this fund. But what happens if the central fund is delayed . Once the matter goes to court , it could take years for the final verdict.
It is ironic that the ruling BJP at the Centre which claims to make India a developed country by 2047 should indulge in the game of freebies and promises which ultimately would damage the nation. Indeed, all parties without exception are hurting the nation by indiscriminately making promises which have profound bearing on the financial health of the country. On the eve of the Himachal Pradesh assembly polls former Prime Minister and renowned economist late Dr Manmohan Singh had opposed his party’s promise of restoring OPS. The Congress, however , went ahead to wrest power in the state.
While judicial recourse is one way to stop the raining freebies during elections, it may not be the last resort to control the situation. Had it been easy, it would have come by now from judicial intervention. What is perhaps needed is a national agreement by all political parties to desist from making financial commitment to voters in the form of freebies. And it is for the ruling party to take the lead.