Press Statement by Nirmala Sitaraman : Congress party, without even a second thought, jumps onto everything apparent opportunity to target Shri Narendra Modi, the Gujarat BJP and the Gujarat Government. This time too, without as much as doing minimum homework, they have jumped into using an issue which upon closer study, only highlight Congress’ own failure. Determining poverty level- based on income or consumption expenditure – is entirely the Union Government’s job. Even if a revised rate has been arrived at by the Central Government, State Governments are not authorized to have a revised criterion unless instructed by the department concerned, at the Center. The figures of Rs. 501/ 324 as monthly per capita income criteria for urban/rural respectively is a criteria set in 2004 by the Government of India; this was communicated by the Food and Civil Supplies Department by the Government of Gujarat as criteria prescribed by the GoI. These criteria ARE NOT determined by the Gujarat government. Not just income, but based on other assets, such as television, radio or cycle are used in determining those below poverty line. This methodology is briefly referred to as asset-based criterion. Based on the Central Government’s asset-based criterion, only 21 lakh families come under the BPL in Gujarat. However, clearly understanding that this does not adequately represent all those who should be under the category, the Gujarat Government extended this very same criterion and has brought in 11 lakh more families under the BPL, on its own expenditure. In other words, the 11 lakh families receive grains fully subsidized by the Gujarat government. Therefore a total of 32 lakh families and just 21 lakh, receive benefits. This approach has been appreciated by the Supreme Court as an effective poverty alleviation program. Several letters of request written by the Gujarat Government since 2004, to the Central Government, underlining the need for urgently revising the criteria for those below poverty line has gone unheeded. Committees after committees have sat on the issue without a change in the criteria now for 10 years. If Shri. Narendra Modi had pulled up the Planning Commission, as the Congress Party rightly observes now, that pulling up also is a part of the 10 year long request that has gone unacknowledged. So the sense of outrage with which the Congress Party has started criticizing the Gujarat CM, they have done so without properly realizing that the flak is on them. The BJP is sure that the Government of Gujarat will release the dates of the various reminders that were sent to the Union Government to review the criteria, if only just to prove the point. Right to Insinuate and Right to State Falsehood The Aam Aadmi Party is gloating under something we feel they have appropriated unto themselves. This seems to be a Right that the Constitution has not provided to anyone in this country. They have given themselves, in the name of providing alternative politics, a Fundamental Right to insinuate and lay false charges at their opponents. In their desperation to acquire credibility, recognition and instant attention, they do not hesitate to handpick names of eminent leaders of the BJP. But it is totally condemnable, that the very AAP leaders who refer to the BJP leaders’ names, do not substantiate their claims with adequate proof of evidence. This clearly verges on insinuation, false propaganda and defamatory allegations. AAP, which did not shy away from taking support of the corrupt Congress, whom they had chosen to call “chor”, and the CM of Delhi who chose to swear in the name of his children, that he shall never form a Government with the support of the Congress today is repeatedly doing a U-turn on every count. • They survive in power with the support of a corrupt Congress. • Their flexible list of corrupt does not dare to name Sheila Dixit • Till date, no action has been taken by the AAP against the Congress and its leadership. They are now asking evidences from the people. So did they, before coming to power, allege only without evidence? • Electricity prices are going up in Delhi. Where are the promises made by AAP? • Milk price has gone up in Delhi. Both the Congress and the AAP have to answer as to why this is happening in Delhi. • Where is the AAP which raided the Ugandan residents? Why are they absent in supporting our brethren from the North-East? The BJP wishes to remind the AAP that they have to focus their attention on governing Delhi through the institutionalized administrative mechanism. A press conference a day with fancy lists which are not substantiated with evidence or false claims cannot make up for good governance. The people of Delhi are feeling even more helpless after this new Government has come into power.
Posted on: Mon, 03 Feb 2014 12:45:49 +0000
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