Chennai: AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa yesterday defended the practise of giving freebies to voters and said the observation of Supreme Court that distribution of freebies of any kind influenced people was “not appropriate”.
In a letter to Election Commission she said “the observation of the honourable Supreme Court that distribution of freebies of any kind undoubtedly influences people and it shakes the root of free and fair elections to a large degree is not appropriate.”
Discouraging the usage of the word ‘freebies', Jayalalithaa, in her reply to EC's letter, which sought for political parties' opinion on various election related issues including freebies, she said “freebies is not an apt term to be used for the welfare measures announced by political parties for the social upliftment of weaker sections.
The monetary and material assistance extended by the government through such schemes are necessary and inevitable in an unequal society like India.”
The Supreme Court had on July 5 observed that giving freebies influenced people and shook the roots of free and fair elections to a larger degree in its judgement over a case between S Subramaniam Balaji Vs the government of Tamil Nadu and others.
Observing that schemes, which provide assistance and aid to the weaker sections were aimed towards the implementation of the directive principles of the state policy, she said, “...the prospective legislators put forth their vision through the election manifesto to the electorate.”
“Assistance given to weaker sections should not be looked at as freebie myopically. Purpose for which such assistance is given and the effect of such assistance alone is relevant,” she said, adding, “any assistance which leads to social and economic growth should not be considered as freebies.”
