New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday termed the issue of free gifts given by political parties in elections as a serious issue. During the hearing on this issue, the Supreme Court has observed that giving and distribution of free gifts by political parties in elections is a 'serious issue'. The court said that public money should be spent on infrastructure development. Along with this, the party of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the court said that there is a difference between welfare schemes and freebies. At the same time, the Supreme Court said that there has to be a balance between wasting money of the economy and welfare of the people. The next hearing in this case will be on August 17.

Along with this, the Election Commission has also been summoned on the issue of giving free gifts by political parties in the elections. The court asked the Election Commission whether all the political parties of the country give their manifesto to you before the elections or not? Taking a tough stand on the delay in giving the affidavit by the Election Commission, the court said that we have not received the affidavit yet, but the newspapers get it before us. Even today we have read the affidavit in the newspapers itself.

Let us tell you that a petition has been filed on behalf of BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay in the Supreme Court regarding giving free gifts by political parties in the country. In this petition, he has claimed that the gift of freebies in elections harms the economy of the country. When the court asked the Election Commission a question about freebies, the commission said that no definition has been made about freebies. However, the Election Commission also told the court that a committee should be constituted for this, but it should be kept away from us, because we are a constitutional body.

Let us tell you that the free schemes in the elections were termed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as 'Rewari Culture'. At the same time, senior Congress leader and senior Supreme Court lawyer Kapil Sibal said that this is a complex issue. He said, 'A woman walking on the road was asked how she travels, she said that the bus ride is free.' That's why I do not understand whether free schemes are important or there is a need to consider the disadvantages of the transport sector, he said.

During the hearing, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice NV Ramana said that a white paper should be issued on such matters. This issue should be debated and it should be kept away from politics. He said that this has to balance the economic loss to the economy and the welfare of the people. He said that for this we want to form some committee. He said that before my retirement, give me suggestions on this issue.