Can Modi Dare To Do What He Said?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s latest remark that the freebie culture is dangerous for the country’s development is cent per cent true. Even economic experts have been iterating the same since long. Recently, the Election Commission of India expressed concern over the same but will any political party go to the election without promising anything free? Forget about other political parties, can the BJP itself go to the polls setting aside promises on freebies?

If Modi is really committed to the cause of eliminating the freebie culture or distribution of free ‘revadis’, he should not make any promise about any freebie in any state for the upcoming elections. Not just that, he should even declare that all the freebies being implemented across the country would be stalled immediately.

Revadi is a north Indian dish distributed during festivals and using that word as a metaphor, he had targeted the Samajwadi Party and Aam Aadmi party.

Burden on state exchequer

Freebies cost thousands of crores to the state exchequer. It is because the governments are busy distributing freebies, the officials are not able to take up development programmes, provide infrastructure or look into the welfare schemes.

The freebie culture is not confined to a few states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana or Tamil Nadu but to all the states in the country. Freebies are promised to lure the voters and gain in the electoral battles. From biryani packets, liquor sachets and many others like TV sets, washing and grinding machines to loan waivers, the political leaders promise anything under the sun only to get voted to power. They do not give a thought to the economic feasibility or the burden the freebies would impose on the taxpayer. They consider the taxpayers’ money as their own and take decisions when it comes to freebies and governance. For that matter, they do not give a hoot to the hard earned money of the taxpayer.

Spirit of democracy gets defeated

While some parties conveniently forget the freebies promised to the electorate during the hustings, some others fulfil it without fail. There is no doubt states where elected representatives encourage the freebie culture suffer a lot in terms of debts and interests. It is a vicious cycle which would never end as the beneficiaries would continuously keep expecting the sops to meet some immediate need.

It is true that democracy itself gets defeated when the voters come under the influence of freebies or any other sops. Every citizen should be guarded against the freebie culture. In such a situation, why cannot Modi take a stern decision disallowing political parties announce freebies? He can call the leaders of all the political parties and discuss on stalling the distribution of money or goods for free to the voters.

It is said that change should begin from the individual who gives a thought to it. Similarly, Modi can begin bringing the change from his own party, the BJP. Can he do away with the freebies being distributed to the underprivileged from the end of this year itself?