‘Previous AAP govt helped only 97 families of Covid victims, spent Rs 17 crore on publicity’: Delhi CM

She was speaking in the Assembly during the ongoing discussion on the Budget. Her attack on the AAP came after Leader of Opposition Atishi criticised her for presenting a “hollow” budget of Rs 1 lakh crore, and accused the BJP government of reducing budgets in the health sector.

“During Covid, these people, who did no work except spend crores of money on their publicity, provided financial assistance to only 97 families and spent Rs 17 crore on advertising it. Did only 97 people die during the Covid period in Delhi?” she asked.

Gupta also alleged that the government’s ambitious plan to hold a shopping festival in the city never took off but expenditure of Rs 8 crore was reflected. “I asked what this festival was, where it was held… Did people come from across the city to attend this… then I got to know, it was not held…,” she said.

Further, the CM also accused the AAP of misusing funds in various welfare schemes meant for the public and said, “You not only stole from the government but from the people… you stole the entire future of the children.”

“They are continuously trying to prove faults in the Budget and are asking from where will the money come from? I want to tell Atishi ji that we will stop all leakages and put a stop to all the theft you did during your tenure… People gave you a chance to sit in the opposition, don’t criticise them too much, you will not get this chance next time,” she said while pointing to the AAP MLAs.

Atishi criticised the Budget, calling it a “hollow projection” due to the Delhi Economic Survey for the year not being presented.

Calling BJP’s Rs 1 lakh-crore budget an “illusion,” she said, “For the first time in Delhi’s history, the BJP government is set to create a record-high fiscal deficit of Rs 13,702 crore. The actual Budget is Rs 78,000 crore, not Rs 1 lakh crore because the government will not be able to take loans under the Small Savings Scheme or receive expected funds from the Centre,” she said in the House.