New Delhi, July 22 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of only briefly addressing the Manipur incidents in the media before the Parliament’s monsoon session. Gehlot highlighted the Prime Minister’s use of “his government” instead of “our state” when referring to Manipur, questioning how different his response would have been if the Congress had been in control of the local administration.
Addressing a press conference a day after the historic passage of the Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023, amidst opposition party criticism, CM Gehlot emphasized the need for robust social security laws in the country. He urged PM Modi to study the social security systems in Western countries and implement equivalent legislation in India.
Gehlot criticized those labeling the income guarantee law as a “freebie,” pointing out that similar measures are being implemented in other states. He challenged PM Modi’s claims of leading the world, urging him to focus on addressing malnutrition and hunger within the nation.
The Chief Minister also recalled how PM Modi had previously praised the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), introduced during the UPA administration, but now seems to require repeated explanations of its provisions.
The 2023 Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill aims to provide a pension or payment to every adult in the state, regardless of their rural or urban residence. Families in the state will receive a minimum of $1,000 per month for disabled individuals, the elderly, single women, and others. Additionally, the bill includes a provision for a 15% annual increase in the pension amount.
