Former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi wrote to new Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, criticizing the BJP government for not implementing a promised financial assistance scheme for women that was to provide Rs 2,500 per month. In her letter, Atishi sought a meeting with Gupta and the AAP Legislature Party to discuss the scheme’s implementation, claiming that the Delhi government had let down women who believed in Prime Minister Modi’s guarantee during the election campaign. Atishi also questioned the BJP’s failure to deliver on other promises and insisted that they fulfill their commitments, including free electricity and ongoing welfare programs following their election victory.
New Delhi:
Former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has addressed a letter to the newly sworn-in Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, expressing concern over the BJP government’s failure to enact a promised financial assistance scheme for women during its initial cabinet meeting on Thursday.
In her correspondence, Atishi requested an opportunity to meet Ms. Gupta along with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Legislature Party on Sunday to discuss the implementation of the scheme that aims to provide Rs 2,500 per month to women in Delhi.
“First and foremost, I extend my sincerest congratulations to you on your appointment as Chief Minister of Delhi,” Atishi’s letter states. “During a rally on January 31, 2025, Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji assured the mothers and sisters of Delhi that once the BJP government was formed, a scheme providing Rs 2,500 per month would be enacted in the very first cabinet meeting. He described this as ‘Modi’s guarantee.’
She further pointed out that although the BJP-led Delhi government convened its first cabinet meeting on February 20, the scheme was not approved. “The mothers and sisters of Delhi had placed their faith in Modi ji’s guarantee, and now they feel let down,” she remarked.
Atishi urged the Chief Minister to meet with the AAP delegation on Sunday to address their apprehensions and take decisive action regarding the scheme.
Atishi, who won the Kalkaji assembly constituency against the BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri in the recent Delhi elections, also criticized the ruling party for not fulfilling its electoral promises during a press conference yesterday. She noted that prior to the Delhi elections, both Prime Minister Modi and BJP national president JP Nadda had guaranteed that the scheme would be approved in the first cabinet meeting and that every eligible woman would receive Rs 2,500 in her bank account by March 8.
Using campaign posters depicting PM Modi and Ms. Gupta, Atishi challenged the BJP to clarify when the promised financial aid would be distributed. “Was this merely another electoral gimmick?” she questioned.
The issue of financial aid for women was a key focus during the Delhi election campaign, with both AAP and BJP making competing pledges. Following the election results, where the BJP ended AAP’s hold on the capital, AAP has been pressing the new administration to fulfill its commitments.
The day after AAP lost power in Delhi on February 8, party leader and former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal met with the 22 newly elected AAP MLAs at his residence. After the meeting, Atishi reiterated that AAP would ensure that the BJP honors its promise to provide Rs 2,500 per month to women by March 8, maintain 300 units of free electricity, and continue other public welfare initiatives.
Atishi also dismissed the BJP’s intention to present 14 Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports at the next assembly session, labeling it a routine affair. The BJP has indicated that these reports will showcase the performance of the previous AAP government and will be presented in the assembly session commencing Monday.
Ms. Gupta was sworn in as Delhi’s Chief Minister on February 20, alongside six other MLAs who were inducted into her cabinet.
During its inaugural cabinet meeting on the same date, the newly-formed Delhi government endorsed the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme, deliberated on the Mahila Samridhi Yojana, and made plans to table 14 pending CAG reports in the first session of the eighth Assembly.
The BJP achieved victory in the elections held on February 5, capturing 48 out of 70 assembly seats, while AAP secured 22 and Congress failed to win any.