The New Democratic Party of India (NDPI) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of jointly harming the nation’s interests. The NDPI claims that instead of addressing critical issues like poverty, unemployment, and inflation, the BJP is fueling communal tensions and organizing grand events such as religious congregations. Simultaneously, they allege the BJP is misleading Delhi residents in collaboration with AAP.
Arvind Kejriwal’s New Pension Scheme
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal recently announced a scheme offering ₹18,000 monthly pensions for temple priests and gurdwara granthis, with registrations starting tomorrow at Hanuman Mandir in Delhi. NDPI leader Harsh Gautam criticized the move, pointing out that similar promises to mosque clerics remain unfulfilled, as no pensions have been disbursed in the last 17 months. He also cited unkept promises made in Punjab, where women were promised pensions that have yet to materialize.
While acknowledging the strategic timing of the pension scheme, Gautam described it as a cleverly designed tactic for voter outreach. He suggested that the registration process doubles as a pilot survey to gauge potential voter support, emphasizing that such initiatives could have been executed post-election or online, highlighting Kejriwal’s political maneuvering.
Women as Decisive Voters
In the previous assembly elections, voter turnout among women (62.55%) was nearly equal to that of men (62.62%). Gautam noted that women have emerged as decisive voters, and Kejriwal’s promise of ₹2,100 monthly payments to women could prove to be a masterstroke alongside the registration drive for priests and granthis.
Ongoing Governance Issues
NDPI also criticized AAP for its governance shortcomings:
- Marshals: 11,000 marshals have been left unpaid for over a year.
- DTC Employees: Pension for Delhi Transport Corporation employees remains unpaid.
- Healthcare: A lack of doctors and beds in hospitals persists.
- Recruitment: Recruitment for thousands of fourth-class employees has been halted.
- Unemployment: Job prospects remain bleak.
They labeled these issues as indicative of everyday “dramas” by the ruling party.
Women-Centric Schemes in Other States
NDPI highlighted similar women-centric initiatives in other states:
- Maharashtra: The ruling coalition promises ₹2,100 monthly under the “Mazhi Mulgi Bahin” scheme.
- Madhya Pradesh: Women receive ₹1,250 monthly under the “Ladli Behna” scheme.
- Jharkhand: Payments under the “Maiyya Samman” scheme have been raised from ₹1,000 to ₹2,100.
- Haryana: BJP promises ₹2,100 per month ahead of elections.
- Assam: ₹1,250 is disbursed monthly under the “Arunodoi” scheme.
- Tamil Nadu: Women receive ₹1,000 under the “Magalir Urimai Thogai” scheme.
- West Bengal: ₹1,000 is provided under the “Lakshmi Bhandar” scheme.
Criticism of Kejriwal’s Promises
Bansuri Swaraj, MP and daughter of the late Sushma Swaraj, accused Kejriwal of making false promises. She alleged that similar assurances given in Punjab have not been fulfilled, with no payments reaching women there. Opposition parties also questioned the financial feasibility of these schemes, given Delhi’s existing debt of ₹7,000 crore.
The NDPI and critics argue that while such schemes may attract voters, the lack of transparency and unfulfilled promises undermine their credibility.
4o
Leave a Reply