In a press conference held after passing the landmark minimum guaranteed income bill in the state assembly, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gehlot criticized PM Modi for his 'few seconds' of speech on the Manipur incidents during a media address ahead of the monsoon session in Parliament. The Chief Minister expressed concern over the PM referring to Manipur as 'his government' instead of 'our state,' questioning how the response might have differed if it were a Congress government.
While advocating the benefits of the income guarantee law, CM Gehlot emphasized the need for a robust social security law in the country. He called on PM Modi to draw inspiration from Western social security laws and implement a similar act in India. Taking a dig at the Prime Minister's world leader aspirations, Gehlot urged him to prioritize addressing hunger and malnutrition issues at home before seeking global recognition, as reported by Hindustan Times.
The Chief Minister also recalled how PM Modi praised the central employment guarantee scheme, MGNREGA, which was launched under the UPA government. Gehlot highlighted the irony of having to repeatedly explain the provisions of the act to the same Prime Minister who now seemed indifferent to the Rajasthan minimum guaranteed income bill.
The bill aims to provide a minimum guaranteed income to the entire adult population of Rajasthan, with a provision to give ₹1,000 per month to families with disabled, aged, single women, and other eligible individuals, regardless of their urban or rural setting. Furthermore, the bill includes a provision to increase the pension by 15% annually, ensuring that beneficiaries' needs are met as the cost of living rises.
