Veteran BJP leader and former Union Minister Murli Manohar Joshi on Thursday called for a meaningful mechanism to achieve genuine economic equality and balanced development across states, arguing that true welfare cannot be ensured merely by “distributing money” during elections.

Speaking at an event in New Delhi, the 91-year-old said economic disparities between states had created an uneven playing field for citizens participating in the democratic process. He criticised the politicisation of welfare schemes, noting that monetary handouts before elections often blur the line between social support and vote-buying.

“This is the question today. Was money given for welfare or to purchase votes? Political parties will not resolve this. They use constitutional provisions to continue in power

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