No party is behind when it comes to making bogus promises in order to get votes in elections. But it is not easy to dupe today’s generation by giving false promises as they read, observe and understand facts well. Moreover, literacy rate is also high in societies.

The best example for this is the unrealised promise given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party in 2014. They promised to bring back black money stashed abroad and deposit Rs 15 lakh in the accounts of each family.

Though Modi and his party came to power and forgot the promises, the people still remember that. When questions were raised in the public about that Rs 15 lakh, it was dismissed with the counter question – “Will any clever person believe in election promises?”.

Later certain intelligent people in the party said that it should only make promises that can be fulfilled. However, such promises have become shot in the arms of parties in the Opposition.

With Lok Sabha election to happen very soon, leaders of all political parties have come out with promises to lure people into their trap.

If 2014 heard a lot about Rs 15 lakh offer, this time the claim is from the Congress.

Party president Rahul Gandhi has offered minimum income for all poor families via bank. He made this offer in a rally of farmers in Chhattisgarh the other day. This ‘historical’ announcement comes besides the earlier one that promised to write off all agricultural loans.

Rahul Gandhi’s explanation for this promise is his wish that nobody should cry due to hunger and live as poor.
The Congress will come out this welfare plan after ensuring that it has fund for it. The promise is that the details of the above scheme will be there in the Congress’ election manifesto.
As there is no dearth of poor people in the country, such welfare schemes will turn out to be main attractions during any election. But a party faces practical difficulties at the implementation stage after it comes to power.
Setting apart immeasurable source for non-productive matters will weaken productive and employment sectors. Non-employment is the main source of poverty. More employment opportunities and prosperity of poor families will happen only if growth in agricultural and business sectors are ensured.
The dream that poor families can be uplifted by giving meagre financial assistance will remain unfulfilled dream. So it will be better if political parties don’t go near people with promises which they can’t fulfil.

In this context, the words of Nithin Gadkari, one of the senior BJP leaders, that people can’t be baffled by showing them just dreams, is memorable.

Gadkari’s statement that people should be told only about the dreams that can be realised and people may take broom to meet if they are given bogus promises is notable.

Gadkari’s statement came on the very day Rahul Gandhi made promises of minimum income for all poor families.
When administrative and political circles say that Gadkari’s statement aimed at Rahul Gandhi, Congress finds satisfaction in their own remark that Gadkari pointed fingers at his own party leaders.

Whosoever was aimed at, what he said is relevant in the present circumstances. Political leaders should have the conviction that all people can’t be duped all times with fake promises.

Leaders should know about the memory power of people when they prepare the election manifesto. They should correct the misunderstanding that they can deceive people by showering promises on them. There should also be a minimum guarantee for a bunch of promises politicians make.