EC to seek details of Niti Aayog VC's remarks against Cong over minimum income promise

Sources in the poll panel said, since Kumar is part of "bureaucratic executive", such remarks may be violative of the model code.

NITI Aayog Vice Chairman, Rajiv Kumar/ Courtesy: ANI

New Delhi: The Election Commission is learnt to have decided to seek details of remarks made by Niti Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar in which he had attacked Congress over minimum income guarantee promise. Sources in the poll panel said, since Kumar is part of "bureaucratic executive", such remarks may be violative of the model code. "It is not a case of one politician attacking the other or one party attacking the other," said a functionary. Kumar had accused the Congress of promising the moon to win elections. He had also tweeted, saying "The proposed income guarantee scheme fails the economics test, fiscal discipline test and execution test". In another tweet, Kumar had claimed that, "true to its past record of promising the moon to win elections, Congress President announces a scheme that will bust fiscal discipline, create strong incentives against work and which will never be implemented."

True to its past record of promising the moon to win elections, Congress President announces a scheme that will burst fiscal discipline, create strong incentives against work and which will never be implemented. (1/2)#MinimumIncomeGuarantee @PMOIndia @FinMinIndia

— Rajiv Kumar 🇮🇳 (@RajivKumar1) March 25, 2019

The cost of the #MinimumIncomeGuarantee scheme at 2% of GDP and 13% of the budget will ensure that real needs of people remain unsatisfied. (2/2)@bsindia @FinancialXpress @ZeeNews @CNNnews18 @IndiaToday

— Rajiv Kumar 🇮🇳 (@RajivKumar1) March 25, 2019

Congress party promised #GaribiHatao in 1971, #OROP in 2008, #FoodSecurity in 2013 to win elections, but couldn’t fulfill any of those. The same unfortunate fate awaits the populist and opportunistic promise of #MinimumIncomeGuarantee. @PMOIndia @FinMinIndia @aajtak @abpnewstv

— Rajiv Kumar 🇮🇳 (@RajivKumar1) March 25, 2019

Kumar is reported to made similar remarks in an interview also. At a press conference here on Monday, Rahul Gandhi announced that 20 per cent families belonging to the poorest category will be given Rs 72,000 each annually as minimum income if Congress comes to power.