Karnataka election brings back the question of freebies: Nidhi Razdan discusses

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Transcript

00:00Well, as we head into the final lap of the Karnataka election, which is voting on the

00:0810th of May, the BJP released its manifesto this week with a familiar debate on the Hindutva

00:13and non-Hindutva agenda in it.

00:16But what I thought was interesting was the promise of three free gas cylinders every

00:20year to poor families along with a free milk scheme.

00:23Now, is that social welfare for the poor or is that a freebie?

00:27That's been at the heart of a very bitter debate between the BJP and the opposition

00:31for several months now, and even the Supreme Court has stepped in and is deciding on the

00:35issue.

00:36Now, the BJP says that when it does it, it's not a freebie, it's welfare for the people,

00:41for the poorest of the poor.

00:43But the opposition says, well, that's exactly what we're saying as well.

00:46How do you describe what is a freebie and what is a welfare scheme?

00:50If you're giving free electricity to people or if you're giving bicycles to school children

00:53so that they get an education, is that not a welfare scheme as well?

00:57The questions here are very, very complex, but the politics is clear.

01:01Mr. Modi wants to take on regional parties that depend on these freebies along with caste

01:06factors to win elections.

01:08They are the real challenge to the BJP today.

01:11Ultimately, though, the issue should be left to voters to decide.

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