After Rahul Gandhi Promotes NYAY Scheme Using Abhijit Banerjee’s Name, The Nobel Laureate Criticises Scheme 

Abhijit Banerjee who was recently awarded the Nobel prize in Economics has now come out to criticise the Congress’ flagship welfare scheme - NYAY, amidst the party’s efforts to use his name in promoting the scheme.

While congratulating Banerjee for the Nobel, former party president Rahul Gandhi had claimed that the Nobel laureate had helped conceptualise the NYAY scheme “which had the power to destroy poverty and boost the Indian economy”.

This gave birth to the narrative that Banerjee was involved in designing the scheme was has received heavy criticism. Banerjee too as a result was questioned over this scheme as to whether he would take responsibility for its flawed economics.

Amidst this row, Banerjee while giving an interview to CNN News18 has clarified that he was not involved in designed the scheme and criticised it by calling it “not particularly well-designed”.

He added that he will not take responsibility for this scheme as, “NYAY was not particularly well designed. I don’t take responsibility for it as nobody asked me whether that’s how it should be designed”.

He also stated that if the UPA indeed had come to power it would have had to modify this scheme due to economic compulsions.