In this recent case, Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has responded to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Apex court seeking action against political parties for promising freebies during elections. The top court was hearing a plea filed by lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay, who sought action against political parties for promising freebies during elections. AAP said the schemes for the deserving and disadvantaged people cannot be considered handouts.”Directive Principles of State Policy of the Constitution reinforced the idea that the state should pursue a socialist and welfarist program for bringing an equitable social order where every person has equitable access to basic amenities,” the intervention application stated while alleging that the petitioner is attempting to use the device of public interest litigation to camouflage a thinly veiled attempt at furthering a particular political agenda. AAP said that such measures have “transformed the lives of the weaker sections of society and which are essential in an unequalual society like ours are a must”. Opposing the plea, the AAP petition stated that if a discussion has to take place on freebies and their connection to the fiscal health of the country, the discussion has to be first in respect of what is being given to politicians. Thus opposing the plea lodged by lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay, the AAP said that the petitioner was trying to use the device of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to “camouflage” an attempt to further his political agenda, news agency PTI reported.
