Delhi's Mahila Samman Yojana Sparks Political Row: Kejriwal Vs BJP!

A public notification issued by the Delhi government's Women and Child Development Department has ignited a political storm. The notice, released on Wednesday morning, declared that any political party collecting information for the 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana' was engaging in fraudulent activities.

This notification came a day after AAP ministers, MLAs, and volunteers launched a campaign to register people for the scheme.

Photo Credit: PTI

Allegations of Fraud

The notice clarified that the Delhi government had not launched the 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana' and any claims made by political parties, including AAP, about offering ₹2,100 per month to women under the scheme were unsubstantiated. It further emphasized that anyone collecting forms or applications for this non-existent scheme was committing fraud.

The department responded to media reports and social media posts stating that AAP was collecting information from women for the so-called scheme. It emphasized that no such initiative had been officially notified by the Delhi government and warned against any political involvement in the collection of personal data for this purpose.

Arvind Kejriwal's Response

AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal reacted strongly to the controversy. In a tweet, he claimed that his political opponents were targeting his party's welfare schemes, particularly the 'Mahila Samman Yojana' and 'Sanjeevani Yojana'. He also suggested that Chief Minister Atishi might be arrested on fabricated charges, citing political interference in the government's initiatives.

Kejriwal further stated that the raids on senior AAP leaders were imminent, as the party's welfare plans were upsetting certain factions. He announced a press conference later in the day to expose what he called attempts to derail the party's work for the public.

BJP Slams Kejriwal Over the Controversy

The BJP quickly seized on the issue, calling Kejriwal a fraud. BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa accused AAP of collecting data under false pretenses. He pointed out that the Delhi government's Women and Child Development Department had clarified that there was no such scheme in existence, and therefore, the collection of forms for the 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana' was illegal.

Sirsa further claimed that those involved in the registration drive were private individuals collecting data for ulterior motives.

The 'Mahila Samman Yojana' and 'Sanjeevani Yojana'

The controversy centers around the AAP's welfare initiatives. The 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana' promises a ₹2,100 monthly allowance to women in Delhi who are not employed in government or political positions. Meanwhile, the 'Sanjeevani Yojana' aims to provide free healthcare to all senior citizens in the city, covering treatment costs at both private and government hospitals.

On Tuesday, AAP leaders, including ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Imran Hussain, launched a registration campaign for these schemes in Shahpur Jat and Ballimaran.

As political parties continue to spar over the issue, it remains to be seen how the dispute will affect the implementation of these welfare programs and the political landscape in Delhi.