However, the ECI welcomed the setting up of an expert body, opining that it could strengthen its existing guidelines in the interest of purity of the electoral process.
The reply also mentioned that other benefits of cross-subsidization or situation/sector-specific relief as a policy instrument in addressing differential vulnerabilities of certain sections cannot be underestimated.
For instance, during natural disasters/pandemic, providing life-saving medicine, food, funds etc. may be a life and economic saviour but in normal times, the same could be termed as “freebies”, the reply stated.
Source: Barandbench
