Modi's Extension of Free Ration Plan: A Sign of Economic Hardship?

The Congress said on Sunday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of a five-year extension of the free ration plan for the poor was an indication of ongoing economic hardship despite allegations of "Amrit Kaal."

The Congress accepted the Prime Minister's decision to prolong the policy, which helps 80 crore people, and did not criticize it, seeing it as a fair appraisal of the situation on the ground.

This indicates that as a result of Modi's policies, economic hardship persists and inequality is increasing. It demonstrates that people are unable to afford even basic necessities due to rising costs and declining wages, according to Congress Communications Chief Jairam Ramesh.

As Gujarat's chief minister, Modi was against the Manmohan Singh administration's food security legislation. At a press conference in Bhopal, Ramesh said, "Now, the same scheme has been rebranded to help the people who suffered income losses during the Covid lockdown."

The note-bandi was the catalyst for the economic crisis. In addition to mocking the MGNREGA (rural employment guarantee plan), which saved individuals in dire need, Modi is on a Desh Becho Abhiyan (sell-the-nation) to one buddy.

Surprisingly, Modi—who often touts his administration's tremendous achievements and claims that India become the world's third-largest economy during a "Amrit Kaal"—seemed to blame his choice on extreme poverty.

"We gave free rations to 80 crore people under the Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana," Modi said on Saturday while speaking at a rally in Madhya Pradesh, a state that is headed for elections. It's not like that at all. The mother never had to see her children weeping; the fire in their stove never went out. Maa ko kabhi rote-bilakhte bacche dekhne nahin pade.

The Prime Minister's choice of imagery was obviously out of step with the grandiose language about India being a global teacher and attaining "Amrit Kaal."

But Modi made a strong point when he said, "I have lived in poverty. I felt what the impoverished felt. I have my decision decided. The program, which was set to expire in December, has been extended for a further five years. This program will cost the federal government lakhs of crores.

While many Congress officials secretly questioned if this move would offer the BJP an edge in the general election of the following year, others said that Modi had been forced to give up his distaste for what he had so mockingly described as "rewdi culture" due to the Congress's strong welfare program.

Using the term "rewdi," which refers to a cheap candy, Modi attacked the gifts that opposition politicians provided to voters during elections, claiming that their main negative effects were on the economy.

The opposition parties were promptly accused by the mainstream media of damaging India's economy in order to maintain their political power, seemingly without warning. Even the Indian Election Commission got involved, stating that political parties should provide information on how their pre-election pledges would be funded.

Speaking on the welfare promises that the Congress had made to Karnataka before to their electoral victory, Modi had forewarned of dire future repercussions. However, the BJP quickly decided to go the same route.

In addition to announcing that it will refill cooking gas cylinders for Rs 450, the Madhya Pradesh government of Shivraj Singh Chouhan also announced the commencement of the Ladli Behna Yojana, a monthly financial aid program for women that is considered as a lifeline for the BJP in the Assembly election.

It's an odd show, with BJP-ruled states vowing to subsidize cooking gas cylinders in opposition to Modi's reformist decision to sell them for Rs 1,100, which has now been lowered to Rs 900 in advance of elections.

Modi's claim about "rewdi culture" seems to have been unintentionally undermined by the BJP's Chhattisgarh manifesto.

In addition to a host of other benefits, it offers up to Rs 10 lakh in health insurance, Rs 12,000 annually for married women, Rs 3,100 for rice each quintal, and Rs 500 for cooking gas cylinders. Strangely, some have referred to these assurances as "Modi's guarantees."

Regarding the manifesto, Ramesh made the following observation: "The Prime Minister doesn't use the word'rewdi' anymore. It's pouring rewdis in Chhattisgarh. However, anybody may make promises, and our history demonstrates that we have kept them.

He emphasized that, in response to requests from government workers, the Congress had enacted the previous pension plan, which had forced Modi to evaluate the current one.

The government's claim that there wasn't enough money to continue the previous pension plan was roundly criticized by the Congress. Modi has been accused by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of squandering money on G20 gatherings, erecting a conference center for Rs 26,000 crore, spending Rs 20,000 crore on the new Parliament building, and spending Rs 8,000 crore on each of the two new aircraft.

In addition, Priyanka said that whereas Modi's capitalist ally Adani made Rs 1,600 crore a day during the COVID pandemic, farmers were only making Rs 27 per day.

Ramesh also expressed dissatisfaction at the handing over of ports, airports, trains, and PSUs to Adani, while basic aid to the impoverished was being derided as "rewdi."

When LPG cylinder prices were slashed by 200 rupees, Ramesh said that "demo-kursi," not democracy, was to blame for the move.

"Jab vote lage ghatne, toh chunavi tohfe lage batne" (When the votes began leaving, electoral gifts started pouring in) was a caustic statement made by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

Under criticism, Modi withdrew the new agriculture legislation. He has now reneged on his remarks about "rewdi culture" by attempting to equal the Congress's generosity.