Finance Minister says Arvind Kejriwal is twisting freebie debate

Nirmala Sitharaman says Delhi Chief Minister is trying to stoke fear in the minds of the poor

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday slammed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for “perversely twisting” the debate on freebies by questioning whether the provision of education and healthcare also constituted such handouts.

Asserting that the provision of health and education are part of governments’ duties in a welfare state, Ms. Sitharaman said they have never been called freebies.

“No Indian government has ever denied them. So by classifying education and health as freebies, Mr. Kejriwal is trying to bring in a sense of worry and fear in minds of poor,” the Finance Minister said, stressing that the Delhi Chief Minister has given a perverse twist to the debate on freebies when there should be a “genuine debate” on the issue.

At a press conference in the capital on Thursday afternoon, Mr. Kejriwal had remarked: “Why is there sudden opposition to free education, healthcare, medicines, food, etc? Is everything okay with the Centre’s finances?”

An official involved in economic policy said that the Centre has been providing free foodgrains to the poor since 2020 and will continue to do so till September 30 this year and beyond if it senses the need. “The fiscal position was not a consideration in this, whether we had to provide vaccines or food for the poor, we have to find resources for whatever is necessary,” the official said.

Stressing that the debate on electoral freebies is not about one political party or a State, officials said the question is whether these are sustainable and viable.

“If someone wants to provide free power to subsistence farmers or small enterprises that need support, it is a good thing but the spending must be provided for in the Budget so power companies get their dues. That is responsible governance. But if you don’t foot these bills, announce free sops before elections and then turn to the Centre for a special ₹1 lakh crore assistance package, there is a problem,” the official explained.