‘What Have They Done?’ BJP Vs Kejriwal As AAP Begins Registration For Women’s Welfare Schemes

Last Updated:December 23, 2024, 2:09 PM IST

The BJP has slammed the AAP’s new welfare schemes, alleging those are election gimmicks. Arvind Kejriwal countered, saying the BJP’s only aim was to target him.

Anurag Thakur (L)/Arvind Kejriwal (R)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday attacked the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the latter’s ‘Mahila Samman Yojana’ and ‘Sanjeevani Yojana’, the registration for which kicked off in Delhi today. In response, Arvind Kejriwal questioned the BJP’s efforts for the welfare of Delhi and said the BJP’s only manifesto was to abuse him.

Coming down heavily on Arvind Kejriwal, BJP’s national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said the Aam Aadmi Party has been in power for 10 years but failed to make Delhi pollution-free. The party also alleged the party could not clean the Yamuna River.

“What have they done? They were in power for 10 years, but could not make Delhi pollution-free. They could not clean the Yamuna,” Poonawalla said.

“They used to talk about good hospitals and schools but could not do it. Now they are making new promises. What were they doing for 10 years? These are just election promises made to the public in view of the upcoming Delhi polls,” he said.

Addressing a press conference today, Union Minister and BJP MP Anurag Thakur said, “The AAP government polluted Yamuna River so badly, it has become so smelly, foamy and poisonous. I remember, during a press conference in 2022, Kejriwal had said that before the next election, he, along with people would take a dip in the Yamuna River, that is before the 2025 election.”

“Kejriwal Ji, 10 years have gone by and only 10 days are left to go for 2025, did the cleaning of Yamuna happen? Has Yamuna become clean?” he asked.

Also slamming the Delhi government over air pollution, Thakur said, “Delhi has become a gas chamber due to the excessive air pollution and bad sewage system. This is causing diseases like malaria and dengue. The water is polluted.”

“Today, the time has come to save Delhi and end the corruption of Arvind Kejriwal,” he said.

Earlier too, the BJP had hit out at the AAP, alleging that this was another attempt by the party to “cheat” the women in Delhi.

In a post on X, the party said, “Arvind Kejriwal is the biggest fraud in the world and his job is to sell false dreams! A case of fraud should be filed against him!”

“Before the elections in Punjab, he said that he would give 1000 rupees to women, but after the elections, he has not given even a single rupee to date. Then before the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi, he said he would give 1000 rupees but has not given it till date,” the BJP said.

In the run for the upcoming Delhi elections, AAP is vying for a third consecutive term, having won 62 out of 70 seats in the last election.

AAP LAUNCHES SCHEMES FOR WOMEN

Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Monday commenced the registration process for ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana’ and ‘Sanjeevani Yojana’ from parts of the national capital.

Earlier, Kejriwal had announced that registration for the Delhi government scheme under which women will be provided monthly assistance will begin on Monday.

He also said registration for the Sanjeevani Yojana which will provide free treatment to people above 60 years of age will also begin along with it.

Countering the BJP’s allegations, Arvind Kejriwal on Monday asked, “What has the BJP done for the people of Delhi? Nothing.”

“Their only manifesto is to abuse me,” he added.

“They have no team, narrative, vision for Delhi. They don’t even have a chief minister’s face,” the party convenor said.

” The BJP has no agenda to contest elections. They should tell the people of Delhi what they have done for Delhi in five years. The Aam Aadmi Party has done a lot of work for Delhiites in terms of electricity, water, women’s travel, roads and many other things. What work have these people done?” Kejriwal asked.

“The law and order situation in Delhi has collapsed. They have not done any work. Now that they have come for elections, they are issuing a chargesheet against me,” he added.

In its 2024-25 budget, the Delhi government announced the ‘Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojana’ scheme to provide Rs 1,000 per month to all women aged above 18. However, Kejriwal recently announced that the amount would be raised to Rs 2,100 if his party returns to power in the assembly elections, slated for February next year.

Reacting to the announcement made on Sunday, the Delhi unit of the BJP said Kejriwal was “selling false dreams” as the AAP had made similar promises ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi and assembly elections in Punjab but has not delivered them.

Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal said, “The registration for the scheme will start tomorrow, and women don’t have to go anywhere for registration. Our volunteers will come to your home and complete the registration.”

“There are many daughters whose college education is interrupted after class 12 due to financial constraints. With this Rs 2,100, they will be able to continue their studies and also help them pursue higher education,” he added.

The beneficiaries will need to show their voter identity cards, and all eligible women voters in Delhi will receive the benefits, he said.

“You don’t need to stand in any queues or waste your time. We will come to your doorstep. Across every area of Delhi, AAP has created thousands of teams. These teams will come to your home and will do registration of all the women of the house and give them a registration card (Kejriwal Kavach Card),” an official statement read.

Kejriwal also announced that registration for the ‘Sanjeevani Yojana’ will start on Monday, and elderly people will be registered at their homes by AAP volunteers.

Earlier, the AAP supremo announced that the ‘Sanjeevani Yojana’ would be launched to provide free treatment to people aged above 60 years after his party returns to power in Delhi.