The Election Commission of India on Friday expressed “displeasure” over NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar’s remarks against the Congress’ proposed minimum income scheme ‘NYAY’ and said the comments violated the model code of conduct norms.
In a communication sent to Mr. Kumar, the EC asked him to be cautious in future while making statements.
The EC asserted that the public servants should not only be impartial in their conduct but also in their public utterances, “which was found wanting in the instant case”.
On March 27, the poll panel had sought Mr. Kumar’s response on his remarks in which he had attacked the Congress over its minimum income guarantee promise.
The EC had felt that since Mr. Kumar is a bureaucrat, his remarks were prima facie violative of the model code.
Mr. Kumar is learnt to have told the Election Commission that he spoke against Congress’s Nyuntam Aay Yojna (Nyay) scheme as an economist and not as part of the policy body.
The Commission, in its letter, said that it considered his reply and has not found it to be satisfactory.
At a press conference here on March 25, Congress president Rahul Gandhi announced that 20% families belonging to the poorest category will be given ₹72,000 each annually as minimum income if his party comes to power.