EC should ban freebies: Assn

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 3
While terming freebies and turncoat leaders as enemies of a healthy democracy, the Police Pensioners’ Welfare Association (PPWA) on Saturday urged the Election Commission of India to ban freebees so that political leaders think before joining other political parties during elections.
“He should mobilise public opinion against freebies and ensure that it is just a deception to the electorates. The freebies and subsidies reflect the degradation of Indian culture,” said Sukhdev Singh Chhina, president, PPWA, in a statement issued here on Saturday.
He said the political parties do not have any right to misuse public funds and if they desire so, they may provide freebies from their party funds. The freebies lead to mounting of loans on the state exchequer and adversely affect the state development. Instead, they should ensure medical insurance to the senior citizens which are denied after the age of 70 years. Insurance should continue till last breath.