Jan Suraaj Slams Bihar Freebie Scheme, Cites Financial Risk

Jan Suraaj spokesperson Pavan Verma has sharply criticized the Bihar government’s recent cash handout to women, labeling it a politically motivated ‘revadi’ scheme. He pointed out the irony of the move, given Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s own condemnation of such populist freebies. Verma raised alarms about Bihar’s escalating debt, which stands at roughly Rs 4,06,000 crore, incurring a daily interest burden of Rs 63 crore. He alleged that the Rs 10,000 distributed to 1.25 crore women might have been funded by Rs 14,000 crore withdrawn from World Bank funds, reportedly intended for a different project. This withdrawal, he claimed, occurred just moments before the Model Code of Conduct was enforced. Verma questioned the ethical standards of this alleged diversion of funds for electoral gain. He extended his criticism beyond Bihar, suggesting that such cash-transfer schemes could become a common pre-election tactic across India, affecting upcoming polls in various states. Despite the party’s recent electoral performance, Verma conceded that Jan Suraaj made strategic errors, attributing them to over-ambition for a nascent party, but insisted their underlying message resonated with the public.