Delhi Government and BJP Clash Over Women’s Welfare Scheme Amid Accusations of Fraud and Political Machinations
A political firestorm has erupted in Delhi, engulfing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a bitter war of words over the "Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana," a proposed women’s welfare scheme. Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has vehemently denied the validity of public notices disavowing the scheme, accusing the BJP of orchestrating a clandestine campaign to sabotage the AAP’s initiative and undermine its popularity ahead of the 2025 assembly elections. The controversy has spiraled into accusations of fraud, political maneuvering, and the misuse of government machinery, exposing the deep fissures between the ruling party and the opposition.
At the heart of the dispute lies the "Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana," a flagship scheme announced by the AAP government, promising a range of benefits to women in Delhi. However, the Delhi government’s Women and Child Development (WCD) department issued a clarification, stating that no such scheme had been officially notified. This public disavowal, published in national newspapers, ignited the current political conflagration. The WCD department’s notice further claimed that any entity collecting applications or information under the guise of this non-existent scheme was committing fraud, deepening the controversy.
Chief Minister Atishi has directly accused the BJP of manipulating government officials to release the disavowal notice, characterizing it as a blatant attempt to discredit the AAP government and derail its pro-women initiatives. She has vowed to take administrative and legal action against the officials allegedly involved in this act of sabotage. Atishi maintains that the cabinet’s decision on the Mahila Samman Yojana is already public knowledge and that the notices are a deliberate misrepresentation of facts, orchestrated by the BJP.
The BJP, on the other hand, has seized upon the WCD department’s notice as evidence of the AAP’s alleged deception and incompetence. Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva has accused Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of misleading the public and perpetrating "digital fraud" by promoting a non-existent scheme. He has framed the situation as a conflict between Atishi and Kejriwal, attempting to sow discord within the AAP ranks and portray the ruling party as untrustworthy. The BJP’s accusations have further fueled the political firestorm, intensifying the exchange of allegations between the two parties.
The controversy surrounding the Mahila Samman Yojana has escalated beyond a mere policy disagreement, evolving into a high-stakes political battle with far-reaching implications. The AAP has portrayed the BJP’s actions as a desperate attempt to undermine its pro-people policies, while the BJP has used the opportunity to attack the AAP’s credibility and paint it as a party prone to deceit. The conflicting narratives have further polarized the political landscape in Delhi, raising questions about the veracity of the claims and the motivations behind the actions of both parties.
This latest clash between the AAP and the BJP highlights the increasingly acrimonious political climate in Delhi, with both parties engaging in a relentless battle for public perception. The controversy surrounding the Mahila Samman Yojana has become a proxy war for the larger political struggle, and its resolution is likely to have a significant impact on the political trajectory of both parties in the run-up to the 2025 assembly elections. The accusations and counter-accusations continue to fly, leaving the public to decipher the truth amidst the political rhetoric. The coming days will be crucial in determining the course of this controversy and its impact on the political landscape of Delhi.