The hearing of the head of government in the case relating to the election petition of Suren Dayal continued on Thursday morning before Justice David Chan and Justice Karuna Devi Gunesh-Balaghee.
Questioned by his lawyer, Mr Ravind Chetty, Pravind Jugnauth returned to the decision of the Alliance Lepep to increase the old-age pension to Rs 5000 in December 2014. He argued that the reason behind this decision was to value the contribution of the elderly having greatly contributed to our economy. Pravind Jugnauth added that the Ptr/MMM Alliance was against this decision and had argued that it was impossible to implement this measure.
The Prime Minister was also questioned on his speech on October 1st on the International Day of the Elderly during which he announced that the old-age pension will be increased up to Rs 13 500 in his next mandate in case of victory.
Ravind Chetty told him that, for Suren Dayal, this announcement amounted to an act of corruption. Pravind Jugnauth rebuked this allegation. He said he did not agree because this announcement is in line with his government’s philosophy of raising the standard of living of senior citizens. He added he had a legitimate right to share his vision and intention for the senior citizens on that specific day.
The Prime Minister also denied an allegation of Suren Dayal saying that the Government was losing ground at that time. Pravind Jugnauth replied this was not the case and that there was such a feel-good factor in the country that any election timing would have resulted in the victory of the Alliance Morisien.
