Opposing only populist promises: BJP’s Vanathi

CHENNAI: Neither BJP nor Prime Minister Narendra Modi is against the freebies as such but only against the populist ones that do not help in the alleviation of poverty, said BJP Mahila Morcha national president and Coimbatore South MLA Vanathi Srinivasan.

“We are opposing freebies which are not going to help uplift individual families and alleviate poverty. We are against providing freebies which are unwarranted” Vanathi told DT Next.

“Prime Minister Modi wanted a meaningful debate on this issue. Neither BJP nor Modi government is not totally against freebies. We are opposed to the freebies which are populist in nature and don’t help develop the country or alleviate poverty,” she said.

Even the Modi government has been providing free ration for BPL families for the last two years, LPG cylinders and Rs 6,000/year for farmers. “But they cannot be construed as freebies,” she said.

Parties were making electoral promises despite the State’s financial situation being in the doldrums, she said could do that if the state’s financial position is strong. Many parties give tall promises during elections, but put in place riders after coming to power, she said, citing the example of jewel and farm loans waivers implemented by the DMK government.

On the allegation that the Centre was providing freebies to corporates through loan write-off, she said, “The banks take control and auction the assets secured against such loans to recover the money,” she said.