BJP leader Parvesh Verma giving money to women for votes: AAP; he says only trying to help through NGO
The pamphlet sported pictures of senior BJP leaders — Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP president J P Nadda.
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BJP leader Parvesh Verma Carrying a yellow and orange pamphlet with a picture of BJP leader Parvesh Verma in a plastic file, Nirmal, a resident of the New Delhi constituency, stood outside the former Delhi MP’s house at Windsor Place. “I was told registration for the Ladli Yojana is going here and if we sign up, we will get Rs 1,100 in hand now and Rs 2,500 will come to my account later if I vote for the BJP (in the Delhi Assembly polls,” she said.
The pamphlet sported pictures of senior BJP leaders — Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP president J P Nadda. It also had a photo of former Delhi CM Sahib Singh Verma, Parvesh’s father. The text on it read: ‘Ladli Yojana (1,100 rupay masik sahayata)’ Below, there was space to note down details of beneficiaries and affix a photo. At the bottom, the card read, “Naari ka samman, Rashtriya Swabhiman (Women’s respect, national self-respect).”
News of this spread, sparking off a heated political confrontation between AAP and BJP, with AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal calling Verma a “traitor”. Chief Minister Atishi demanded Verma’s arrest, accusing him of “trying to buy voters through money as BJP is going to lose the upcoming polls”. Verma hit back, saying he launched a scheme to help women with financial aid of Rs 1,100 via an NGO founded by his father.
Like Nirmal, several people were waiting outside.
Vidya, a resident of Railway Camp in Safdarjung Enclave, said, “People from the AAP, BJP and Congress have been coming to our area for election campaigning. Yesterday, Kejriwal ji’s team came and promised to give Rs 2,100 if we vote for AAP. I filled out that form… Similarly, BJP volunteers also came and said they would not make false promises and would give cash in hand…”
Her husband, Munna Lal, said, “Abhi paise nahi mila hai… par vote toh hum usi party ko karenge jo hum logon ke liye kaam kar rahi hai. (We have not received the money yet… but we will vote for the party which is working for us).”
Bharti Soni from Kali Badi showed the envelope and the Rs 1,100 she got. “They told us of schemes implemented by the BJP and our PM. There are many people inside and we’ve been promised that if we vote for BJP, we will get Rs 2,500 monthly in our account, free healthcare, better education, and other benefits,” she claimed.
Arguments between the AAP and BJP, meanwhile, intensified.
Kejriwal, who will be contesting the polls from the New Delhi constituency for the fourth time, claimed Verma is the BJP’s CM face and asked the people if they want such a person as their CM.
The BJP is yet to release its list of candidates for the polls, but sources had said Verma may be fielded from New Delhi — setting off a potential clash with Kejriwal.
Atishi said, “I urge the ED-CBI and the Delhi Police to raid Verma’s residence. There is credible information that crores of rupees in cash are still lying there. If these agencies act now, the truth about BJP’s unethical practices will be exposed to the entire country.”
Verma hit back at the AAP and said, “After hearing about the plight of people concerning huge electricity bills and contaminated water… I launched a scheme to help women with financial assistance of Rs 1,100 through Rashtriya Swabhiman, an NGO founded by my father.”
Taking a dig at the AAP chief, he said, “Unlike Mr Kejriwal, I’m not distributing free alcohol. When the entire world, country and this city suffered from the pandemic, Kejriwal offered ‘one plus one scheme’ on alcohol whereas Rashtriya Swabhiman was engaged in 24×7 relief work. Besides, Kejriwal was busy building his ‘Sheesh Mahal’ at the peak of the pandemic.”
The Civil Lines bungalow where Kejriwal lived when he was CM has been referred to as ‘Sheesh Mahal’ frequently by the BJP, which has alleged financial irregularities in its construction.
BJP’s national IT department in-charge, Amit Malviya, in a post on X also slammed Kejriwal, saying despite being “accused in a liquor scam”, he is giving “gyan” over who will be the BJP’s CM face.
Kejriwal was arrested earlier this year in the excise policy scam and released on bail in September.
Kejriwal then hit back at Verma in a series of posts on X. “These people are handing out Rs1,100 per voter and asking them to vote for their party. Are you helping the needy or openly buying votes? Aapke pitaji ko aaj sharm aa rahi hogi aap jaise desh drohi baithe par (Your father must be ashamed of having a traitor son like you).”
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