AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal claimed that Delhi Chief Minister Atishi would soon be arrested in a fake transport case as the BJP was rattled by the party’s announcement of welfare initiatives like the Mahila Samman Yojana and the Sanjeevani Yojana. Addressing a press conference with Atishi by his side, Kejriwal claimed that the ED, CBI and the Income Tax department recently held a meeting and “orders were received from the top” to arrest the Chief Minister and raid senior AAP leaders.
“As per sources, recently there was a meeting between CBI, ED and I-T, and they have been asked to arrest Atishi by fabricating any false case against the Chief Minister,” Kejriwal said.
Accusing the BJP of trying to distract the AAP from its poll campaign, Kejriwal claimed that Atishi might be arrested in a “fake case related to free bus rides for women”. “I will not let the scheme of free bus rides for women stop till I am alive,” he said.
The development comes amid a row over two Delhi government departments issuing public notices in newspapers, saying the Mahila Samman Yojana and the Sanjeevani Yojana were “non-existent”. The notices ask citizens not to provide personal details to anyone on the pretext of registration.
Reacting to the controversy, Atishi claimed the BJP got the notices published by “putting pressure” on a few officers.
“The notices issued in newspapers today are wrong. Administrative and police action will be taken against these officers. The information that Mahila Samman Yojana has been notified by the Delhi Cabinet is in the public domain,” the Chief Minister said.
The AAP has already started doorstep registration for the schemes, with Kejriwal and Atishi themselves hitting the road earlier this week.
Under the Mahila Samman Yojana, modelled on Maharashtra’s Ladli Behna Yojana that helped the BJP retain power in the state, eligible women will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 1,000. Kejriwal has promised that the amount will be increased to Rs 2,100 if the AAP is re-elected.
The Sanjeevani Yojana promises free healthcare for Delhi residents aged 60 and above. The scheme will cover medical expenses of senior citizens in both government and private hospitals.
