Revadi Culture: Centre gets “Supreme” nod to end freebie politics

The culture of freebies is gradually becoming a hindrance to India’s development. Some ‘good for nothing’ politicians are the ones responsible for it. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court has now given a green signal to the Centre, to address the increasing ‘Revadi culture’.

Supreme Court’s direction to the central government

In a recent development, the Supreme Court asked the central government to take a stand on the need to control the rigorous declaration of freebies by politicians during their election campaigns.

A bench of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, Justices Krishna Murari, and Hima Kohli, termed this as a ‘serious’ issue, which needs to be addressed immediately. In addition, the Centre was asked by the court to consider whether the suggestions of the Finance Commission can be sought for a solution.

In the wake of CJI asking Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal about his view on the issue, Mr. Sibal said, “It’s a serious issue but difficult to control politically. The Finance Commission when it does allocation to various states, they can take into account the debt of the state and the quantum of freebies.” Moreover, the Finance Commission is the “appropriate authority” to deal with this kind of issue. In addition, he said, “Maybe we can invite the Commission to look into this aspect. The Centre cannot be expected to issue directions.”

It is apparent that India is looming under the circle of freebies for past some time now. States changes, political representations change, but the deplorable political tactic of freebies doesn’t change. We, at TFI, have often uncovered the political strategies that public servants often masquerade with.

PM Modi on “Revadi culture”

Addressing the same issue, PM Modi had earlier conveyed about the “dangerous Revadi (freebie) culture”, which is gradually deepening its roots in Indian electoral politics. Those who propagate this culture will never be able to build expressways, bridges, and roads for the common masses. He opined, “People of this mindset feel they can buy off voters with free Revadi.”

On the other hand, PM Modi distinguished BJP from the opposition, by concerning their unethical means of filling their vote banks. It is pertinent to note here that there are various state governments who promulgate the freebie culture. It is done apparently to add to their corrupt political mindset. However, there is an intrinsic need to curb this menace.

The state government’s immoral attack over public

As reported by TFI in 2020, it was Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal who doled out the freebie lolly-pops to the public of Delhi, stating that the government was in surplus. Earlier, before the Delhi elections, Kejriwal had said, “Freebies, in limited doses, are good for the economy. It makes more money available to poor, hence boosts demand.” However, looking at the other side of the fence uncovers the dilapidated reality of the Delhi government with the sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Further, Kejriwal tried to imitate the same tactic in Punjab as well. Apparently, the “Revadi culture” is the most ‘dearest’ phenomenon for AAP to win the elections. The Kejriwal government is mirroring socialist politicians like Lalu Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav. Politicians like them caused the states to survive in the doldrums.

The socialists appreciate, Lalu Yadav, ruined the state by not increasing the passenger fare in railways. This further caused damage to the railway infrastructure with unhygienic stations, unavailability of tickets, extreme rush due to unavailability of trains, and delays due to single line infrastructure.

There is an intrinsic need to eradicate the Revadi culture before it spews venom across the country. This culture can be witnessed as an obligation in India’s aim to slash all the “supposed” superpowers of the world. And this envisaged the Supreme Court to ask the central government to carry out an immediate sway of stringent actions to curb the menace.