Poll panel seeks answers on cash transfer scheme

The Election Commission, acting on a complaint from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party against the union government's direct cash transfer scheme to replace indirect subsidies, has asked for a response from the cabinet secretary on the issue.

The EC has in essence questioned the timing of the announcement, with the Gujarat elections due on 13 December. A BJP delegation led by senior party leader L K Advani had met the Chief Election Commissioner on Friday to complain against the cash subsidy scheme, announced in November.

"We have asked the cabinet secretary to give us a factual report on the issue by Monday evening, and if we do not get a reply we will take action," the EC said on Sunday.

Manish Tewari, the junior minister for information and broadcasting, said the government would file a response today.

"If the Election Commission has asked the government for clarification, I'm sure the appropriate part will provide that information to the EC. There is a formal communication process, and it would not be appropriate for me to second-guess,'' he said.

But he went on to add, ''The former finance minister (Pranab Mukherjee) in his budget speech had dealt extensively with the issue of cash transfers, therefore there seems to be some amount of work done in the past. The more relevant question, which BJP should answer, is why are they afraid of cash transfers? Do they want money of the people to go directly into the hands of people or not - that's the germane issue."