New Delhi: The Election Commission has sought the transcript of a controversial statement made by NITI Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar against the Congress, to examine whether it violated the model code of conduct, ThePrint has learnt.
After Congress president Rahul Gandhi promised a minimum income guarantee of Rs 72,000/year to the poorest Indian families if the party was voted to office, Kumar accused the party of “saying and doing anything to win elections”.
In an interview to news agency ANI Monday, Kumar said, “It’s an old pattern followed by Congress. They say and do anything to win elections. Poverty was removed in 1966, One Rank One Pension was later implemented, everyone received proper education under Right of Education! So you see then can say & do anything [sic].”
NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman: It's an old pattern followed by Congress. They say & do anything to win elections. Poverty was removed in 1966, One Rank One Pension was later implemented, everyone received proper education under Right of Education! So you see then can say&do anything. pic.twitter.com/29FBr1DJ86
— ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2019
Rajiv Kumar: In 2008 Chidamabaram ji took fiscal deficit from 2.5% to 6%. It's the next step in that pattern. Rahul Gandhi ji made the announcement without thinking its impact on economy, we will take 4 steps back due to this scheme. https://t.co/FGkaLzqJC7
— ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2019
According to sources in the Election Commission, the poll panel took suo motu cognisance of the statement, and sought the exact transcript to ascertain if the statement violated the model code of conduct.
The notice came after several Twitter users questioned whether Kumar, a high-ranking government official, could make such a politically-loaded statement. especially when the code was in force.
He may be right. He may be wrong. But he has no business talking like this if he is Niti Aayog Vice Chairman.
If he wants to take party political stands, he should just join politics. https://t.co/cPdhXpwJo2— vir sanghvi (@virsanghvi) March 25, 2019
Didn't realise NITI Aayog Vice Chairman had joined the BJP: surely inappropriate for him to attack opposition parties https://t.co/4rC3nkw7Ma
— Smita Gupta (@g_smita) March 25, 2019
Apart from his interview to ANI, Kumar had also put out a series of tweets, lambasting the Congress for announcing a scheme that would “bust fiscal discipline, create strong disincentives against work and which will never be implemented”.
True to its past record of promising the moon to win elections, Congress President announces a scheme that will burst fiscal discipline, create strong incentives against work and which will never be implemented. (1/2)#MinimumIncomeGuarantee @PMOIndia @FinMinIndia
— Rajiv Kumar 🇮🇳 (@RajivKumar1) March 25, 2019
The cost of the #MinimumIncomeGuarantee scheme at 2% of GDP and 13% of the budget will ensure that real needs of people remain unsatisfied. (2/2)@bsindia @FinancialXpress @ZeeNews @CNNnews18 @IndiaToday
— Rajiv Kumar 🇮🇳 (@RajivKumar1) March 25, 2019
Congress party promised #GaribiHatao in 1971, #OROP in 2008, #FoodSecurity in 2013 to win elections, but couldn’t fulfill any of those.
The same unfortunate fate awaits the populist and opportunistic promise of #MinimumIncomeGuarantee. @PMOIndia @FinMinIndia @aajtak @abpnewstv
— Rajiv Kumar 🇮🇳 (@RajivKumar1) March 25, 2019
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala Tuesday criticised the NITI Aayog, the government think tank formed under the Narendra Modi administration after the dissolution of the Planning Commission, saying it had become a “Rajneeti Aayog (political commission)”.
.@rssurjewala says Niti Aayog has become Rajniti Aayog when asked about their criticism of #NYAY scheme @ThePrintIndia @INCIndia
— Neelam Pandey (@NPDay) March 26, 2019
Also read: Now, Niti Aayog to ensure credibility of India’s economic data
May be Neeti Aayog wrong to comment, but the truth can’t be denied that a irresponsible commitment to lure the voters without assessing the quantum of the funds such promised is commendable. It will make our Indians idle and unproductive . More over if Rs.400/- is the minimum wage, how can anyone prove getting lesser than it. So stop befooling people. Let India work and justify the people to prove to be worth earning Rs.12000/-.
Narendra Modi’s prime task has been to weaken the national institutions, politicise them, fill up key posts, including even that of the nation’s President, with RSS stalwarts, and to weaken the judiciary. Remember the unprecedented, historic press conference by four senior Supreme Court judges to express their lack of confidence in their chief, that too in the context of a fake encounter killing case in which the ruling party chief, Amit Shah was the prime accused.
Violation of the Model Code of Conduct is a lesser issue. What is more important is to question whether someone in this position can be so blatantly political / partisan. It is evident that a government servant deputed to Niti Aayog cannot. Those who are political appointees have a little more latitude / autonomy perhaps, but they serve a federal institution that deals extensively with the states, many ruled by opposition parties. It is just a matter of time before service chiefs start criticising previous governments, their failure to procure weapons systems in time, perhaps to respond more forcefully to provocations. This is the new normal.