Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana launch: Mahayuti goes all-out to woo ‘sisters’, MVA says nothing will work

The Chief Minister seized the opportunity to announce that the government might even increase the beneficiary amount from Rs 1,500 per month to Rs 3,000. ”If everyone blesses the scheme and provides us the strength, we can even increase the beneficiary amount from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000,” he said as he received a resounding applause from women who had turned up in large numbers.

A festival-like atmosphere prevailed at Balewadi stadium in Pune as the government apparently left no stone unturned to make the event a grand success amidst the beating of dhol-lezim and impromptu dance numbers from enthusiastic women. The CM and Deputy CMs made a grand entry through a specially set up walkway, something that has not been witnessed at other government events.

They waived, smiled and even shook hands with women. Before the event, the police had banned heavy vehicles from plying on the Bengluru-Mumbai highway, which drew sharp reactions from commuters over delays in travelling.

Minister Dilip Walse-Patil, Chandrakant Patil, Aditi Tatkare, State Legislative Council deputy chairperson Neelam Gorhe and Pune MP Murlidhar Mohol were present among others.

In his attack on the opposition, the Chief Minister said, “Those who tried to profit themselves even during Covid by showing fake patients and fake doctors tried to put up hurdles in rolling out the Ladki Bahin Yojana. The opposition even went to the court to stall the scheme… They even tried to stop the government from doling out sugar, oil and essential items which are given to the poor during Diwali, Dasara and Ganpati festival…. We will have to show the opposition their place.”

Praising himself and the two Deputy CMs, Shinde said, “You all know I was an ordinary party worker from a middle class family who rose to became the Chief Minister. My two Deputy CMs and I have proved our mettle. We have outsmarted ‘step-brothers’ (opposition) to reach this position. You should not bother yourself with the step-brothers… you should show them their place. The step-brothers allege that the Ladki Bahin Yojana was an attempt to fool people and that it was an election jumla… The opposition is only trying to put up hurdles… If they criticise us, we will tolerate it. If they put hurdles in the way of the scheme from reaching our sisters, then they will have to deal with us,” he said.

The CM said women can fill up forms for the scheme up to August 31. “After filling the form, the women will get an amount for three months in their bank acccounts. In case of some women, they will receive their amount after their bank accounts are linked with Aadhar cards. Lakhs of women will get an assured amount in their accounts every month,” he said.

The CM said under the Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana, women will get three free LPG cylinders every year. ”We will also help brothers, the training for which is underway. We are trying to help everyone by implementing several welfare measures. Public service is our ultimate motive,” he said.

Besides attacking the opposition for trying to create hurdles in implementing the scheme, Fadnavis said, “Pune is the land for social reforms and that is why we are starting the yojana from Pune. This government intends to help our sisters. Before this event started, the government deposited the money into the banks of 1.3 crore sisters. Those whose forms get verified in September will ge their amount from July.”

Fadnavis said ”Viksit Bharat” was the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. ”If women progress, India will progress…This is what the Prime Minister often says. That is why we are implementing women-focussed welfare measures like Lakhpati Didi, Lek Ladki, Shikshan Shulka Mafi and Ladki Bahin yojana. We believe that women should have a share in the state’s economy.”

In his speech, Ajit Pawar said the Ladki Bahin yojana was intended to empower women and allow them to live with dignity and pride. “This scheme is getting overwhelming response from women. So far over one crore women have benefitted. We have deposited Rs 3,000 collectively for the months of July and August… This is our ‘bhau-beej’ gift for our sisters.

Of the three, Ajit Pawar was the only one who criticised two Mahayuti MLAs for their “objectionable remarks”.

”Some of our colleagues said the government will take back the money from the women… This is not true. We will in fact be giving the amount for the next five years, which amounts to Rs 90,000,” he said.

The MVA ridiculed the Mahayuti’s attempts to indulge in patting themselves on their backs at the expense of tax payers’ money. NCP (SP) spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said, “There was no need for the government to organise such a grand function and splurge tax payers’ money in this manner. They could have organised a simple function without spending too much of money. Besides, it was a government event where courtesy demands that the opposition is invited. However, the way the function was organised seemed like it belonged to three parties, BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP and not to the government. When the government is weighed down by by a huge loan, it should not resort to such unnecessary tactics to pat itself on the back.”

Tapase said while the Election Commission announced polls in two states of Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana, it failed to do so in case of Maharashtra. ”The Government is scared. It wants the Mahayuti Government to lay the ground, to prepare itself well…But no matter what they do, no matter how much they try to influence voters by doling out government money, they will not succceed. We are not against the Ladki Bahin Yojana but it should not be used to influence the voters. This is illegal and highly condemnable,” Tapase said.