EC asks Niti Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar to explain his remarks against Congress’ NYAY scheme

The Election Commission of India is learnt to have sent a letter seeking details of remarks made by Niti Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar in which he had attacked Congress over minimum income guarantee promise, as per a report published in Indian Express. EC has asked him to respond in two days.

Sources in the poll panel said, since Kumar is part of "bureaucratic executive", such remarks may be violative of the model code.

"It is not a case of one politician attacking the other or one party attacking the other," said a functionary.

He had also tweeted, saying "The proposed income guarantee scheme fails the economics test, fiscal discipline test and execution test".

In another tweet, Kumar had claimed that, "true to its past record of promising the moon to win elections, Congress President announces a scheme that will bust fiscal discipline, create strong incentives against work and which will never be implemented." Kumar is reported to made similar remarks in an interview also.

At a press conference in New Delhi on Monday, Rahul Gandhi announced that 20 per cent families belonging to the poorest category will be given ₹72,000 each annually as minimum income if Congress comes to power.

with PTI inputs