'Education, healthcare not freebies': AAP-BJP 'rewadi' war reaches Supreme Court

The AAP has approached the Supreme Court over the BJP's allegation that it was giving out freebies for votes.

Delhi CM and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal (left) and PM Narendra Modi. (Photos: PTI)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Aam Aadmi Party has approached the SC against BJP's 'freebies for votes' allegations.
• AAP said education, health, etc cannot be considered "rewadi".
• PM Earlier, PM Modi had warned people to stay away from "rewadi culture".

The Aam Aadmi Party has approached the Supreme Court saying that expenditure on public welfare schemes, such as education, health, etc cannot be considered as "rewadi" or freebies, as claimed by the BJP.

Taking a dig at the BJP, it said that "debt waivers and tax relief for a few people" should be considered freebies.

"Some parties make some promises before the election but do something entirely different when the government is formed," it said in a petition.

ALSO READ | Revdi culture: PM Modi warns against electoral freebies at Bundelkhand expressway launch

Taking a dig swipe at PM Narendra Modi, the party mentioned that before the (2014) elections, the Prime Minister had said that every Indian would get Rs 15 lakh each. "But after the government was formed, he waived Rs 10 lakh crore of only a few people," it said.

On Monday, Delhi CM and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal lashed out at the Modi government over the PM's comments on freebies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that efforts were being made to bring in a culture of collecting votes by distributing 'free rewadi' in the country. PM Modi warned people against this "rewadi" culture.

ALSO READ | Atmosphere created against free education, free medical treatment: Arvind Kejriwal

Reacting to this, Kejriwal said providing free, quality education and medical care was not giving out freebies.

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Source https://www.globalcourant.com/education-healthcare-not-freebies-aap-bjp-rewadi-war-reaches-supreme-court/?feed_id=8466&_unique_id=62f1e1c5cdfd8

Ruling coalition boycotts Supreme Court's proceedings

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari (L), JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman (R) PML-N stalwart Shahid Khaqan Abbasi (C) addressing a press conference after Supreme Court's hearing on July 25, 2022. — Screengrab Geo News

ISLAMABAD:  The Pakistan Democratic Movement's (PDM) leadership Monday announced that the ruling coalition has decided to boycott the Supreme Court's proceedings after the apex court  announced to continue the hearing on the case pertaining to the Punjab chief minister's election with the current three-member bench.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan rejected the petition seeking the formation of a full bench for hearing the case of the Punjab chief minister’s election — where Hamza Shahbaz defeated Pervez Elahi.

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, while addressing a press conference at the Prime Minister’s House,  said if the Supreme Court doesn’t form a full court, “then we [PDM] will also reject all decisions of the judiciary as we will not appear before this three-members bench.”

“We boycott the proceedings of the apex court,” Fazl announced, adding that the coalition government doesn't want any institution to interfere in its matters.

Fazl, who is also the chief of PDM, said that the counsellors of the government alliance advised the jury according to the constitution; however, the top court “instead impartially considering our demand rejected our petition.”

Endorsing Fazl's statement, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs and PPP Co-Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said  PPP along with all other alliance parties of PDM has decided to boycott the court proceedings. He said that when a decision is being taken about an institution then the entire bench should hear the case.

‘This is Supreme Court’s test’

PML-N senior leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that this is the “test of the Supreme Court now”. He further added that the PDM had warned that if the decision is taken by a full court, then only it will be accepted by the people of Pakistan.

Abbasi said the three judges of the existing bench had the responsibility to decide whether or not history would accept their conduct.

It should be noted that adjourning the hearing till 11:30 am tomorrow, the court announced that a three-member bench — headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, and comprising Justice Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar — will hear the petition filed by the PML-Q and PTI regarding the Hamza Shahbaz being elected as the chief minister of Punjab.

The press conference followed a huddle of the government leaders at the Prime Minister's House after the verdict was announced.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, JUI-F chief Fazl, and PPP chairman were among the senior political leaders and government figures in attendance

Leaders of the MQM-P, members of ANP, BAP, BNP and other government-allied parties are also present at the huddle, along with other senior PML-N figures.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/ruling-coalition-boycotts-supreme-courts-proceedings/?feed_id=2054&_unique_id=62df0613b37ad