New Delhi: AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal in a press conference on Saturday accused the BJP of trying to derail the party’s welfare schemes, including the Mahila Samman Yojana and the Sanjeevani Yojana. Speaking to reporters, Kejriwal said the BJP was “panicked” by the announcement of a monthly payment of Rs 2,100 to women and free treatment for senior citizens, and was resorting to desperate measures to stop these initiatives.
Kejriwal reaffirmed his party’s commitment to the Mahila Samman Yojana, which promises Rs 2,100 per month to eligible women aged above 18, and the Sanjeevani Yojana, which guarantees free medical treatment in both government and private hospitals for Delhi residents aged above 60. He said these promises were part of AAP’s election manifesto and would be implemented after the party is re-elected to power.
Delhi LG orders inquiry
“The BJP does not want the people of Delhi to benefit from these schemes. They fear defeat in the upcoming polls and are trying to stop these programmes at any cost,” Kejriwal said. Delhi is slated to go to polls in February 2025. AAP is looking at a third full term in the national capital, while both BJP and Congress will try to dislodge it.
Kejriwal’s comments came after Delhi LG ordered an inquiry into alleged misuse of personal data collected during the registration drives for the Mahila Samman Yojana. The LG’s office suggested that the information gathering might be canvassing disguised as a welfare initiative and directed the Chief Secretary to inform the Election Commission of India.
Kejriwal calls it politically motivated
Rejecting the inquiry as baseless, Kejriwal claimed it was politically motivated. “This is nothing but a fake investigation ordered on the complaint of Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit. BJP and Congress have joined hands to stop AAP’s progress,” he alleged.
He further accused the BJP of planning to end several free schemes if it comes to power, including free electricity, water, bus travel for women, and pilgrimage for the elderly. “If you elect the BJP, you won’t be able to survive in Delhi. They want to deprive you of all the benefits that AAP has introduced,” he said.
Despite the opposition, Kejriwal vowed to implement the Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevani Yojana after the elections, adding, “Trust me, just as we implemented free water, electricity, and travel for women in buses, we will deliver on these promises too.”
