Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Aug 9: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has submitted an application in Supreme Court challenging a PIL against political parties that make promises to distribute ‘freebies’ during election campaigns.
Free water, power, and transportation promised as part of an election are not ‘freebies,’ according to AAP’s appeal, but rather necessities in an uneven society.
According to AAP, the Indian Constitution’s Article 19 guarantees the fundamental right to free expression, which includes promises to uplift the impoverished by giving night shelters, free energy, free healthcare, and free education.
“Electoral promises such as free water, free electricity or free public transport are not freebies but examples of discharging constitutional responsibilities of the State towards creating a more equitable society,” states the application filed by AAP.
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The Supreme Court stated last week that there needs to be a commission set up to look into the ‘severe economic issue’ of political parties proposing to hand out freebies during election campaigns.
It challenged the PIL submitted by attorney Ashwini Upadhyay on the grounds that the petitioner was associated with the BJP and sought to counter its special ‘socialist and welfare programme’ in national politics, which aids the oppressed and the impoverished.
