BJP MLAs to return iPhones gifted with budget copies in Rajasthan
The Hindu
Cong. says Oppn. creating an issue because it could not criticise State budget
The Opposition BJP in Rajasthan has announced that its MLAs will return the iPhones gifted to them by the State government with the copies of the 2022-23 budget. The ruling Congress on Thursday questioned the decision, saying the BJP was creating an issue because it could not criticise the welfare budget which had benefited all sections.
All the 200 MLAs were given an Apple iPhone-13 each along with the copies of the State budget after Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s speech in the House on Wednesday. The State government has spent nearly ₹1.50 crore on purchasing the iPhones, each of which costs over ₹75,000.
The legislators in the State, cutting across party lines, have received expensive electronic gadgets as gifts during the Assembly’s budget session for the third consecutive year. Last year, Apple iPads containing soft copies of the budget and related documents were given to the MLAs, while the laptops were given to all of them after the budget presentation the previous year.
BJP State president Satish Poonia said the party had decided to return the iPhones keeping in view the financial burden on the State government. He said the decision was taken in consultation with Leader of Opposition Gulab Chand Kataria, who had opined that accepting the iPhones would set a “wrong precedent”, and other senior leaders. The BJP has 71 MLAs in the House.
Mr. Poonia said the BJP’s move would send across a positive message to the people, as the MLAs already had mobile phones with them and were using computers and Internet. “The party leaders think it appropriate on moral grounds to return the iPhones, while considering financial burden on the State exchequer,” he said.
On the other hand, the State government has maintained that the iPhones were given to all legislators to enable them to use an iPhone operating system (IOS)-based mobile app launched by the Assembly earlier this week. Assembly Secretary M.P. Sharma said the updates related to the legislative work be would be available on the app, which was developed in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre.
The MLAs can use the app for accessing questions, motions, Bills, agenda, session review, business rules and the Assembly proceedings. An Android-based mobile app of the Assembly was operative in the past for the convenience of legislators.