New Delhi: Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Saturday ordered a probe into the ruling Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP’s) welfare schemes. Saxena initiated an inquiry into the allegation that “non-government” people are collecting personal details of residents of Delhi in the name of registration for Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) proposed welfare scheme ‘Mahila Samman Yojana’, reported ANI. Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP’s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal called these allegations “fake”. He further questioned what the police would investigate.
The development came ahead of the Delhi Assembly Elections 2025. The Lt Governor’s office also wrote a letter to the Commissioner of Police and Delhi Chief Secretary on the basis of the complaint filed by Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit.
Dikshit’s Allegations:
Dikshit alleged that cash in crores was being transported to Delhi from Punjab for the upcoming assembly polls. The Congress leader claimed that private vehicles, with Punjab police escorts, were being used to transfer huge amounts of cash.
Dikshit also requested the Director General of Police (DGP) in Punjab, and the state governments in Haryana and Rajasthan to remain vigilant and monitor the movement of such vehicles.
The Delhi LG said the possibility that such “illegal” money will be used to influence the voters ahead of the elections cannot be ruled out. He said that such actions could undermine the free and fair elections.
“Lieutenant Governor has noted that the elections to Delhi Legislative Assembly are likely to be conducted shortly and the possibility of using such illegal money in the ensuing election to influence the voters of Delhi cannot be ruled out. Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor has also noted that use of money power in election is not only an offence under section 170 & 171 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and section 123 of Representation of People Act, 1951 but also an impediment to free and fair elections,” the letter signed by Principle Secretary to Delhi LG read.
“Lieutenant Governor has further desired that Chief Secretary may bring this matter to the knowledge of Chief Electoral office,” the letter added.
The letter further stated that the Commissioner of Police may direct the field officers to take action as per law against the person who is breaching the privacy of citizens by collecting their personal data in the name of registration for AAP’s poll promise of giving Rs 2,100 to women.
Kejriwal’s reaction:
Kejriwal lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after the LG’s letter. “Today we got to know that if they (BJP) win, they will stop the Mahila Samman Yojana, Sanjeevani Yojana, free electricity, free education and free electricity,” the former Delhi Chief Minister said while addressing reporters.
Kejriwal’s Media Briefing:
“I had said that after winning the election, we would give Rs 2,100 to women and free treatment to elderly people above 60 years of age. These schemes were beneficial for the public and lakhs of people registered for them already,” Kejriwal said. He further stated that these schemes made the BJP nervous ahead of the polls. The former Delhi CM claimed that some BJP leaders called him and told him that this time deposits of the saffron party candidates would be forfeited at many constituencies.
“They sent their goons and tried to uproot the registration camps and then sent the police to do the same. They have ordered a fake investigation today. But What will they investigate? We had made an election announcement that if we win the election, we will implement it.”
He said that the BJP wanted to stop the welfare schemes.
BJP’s Hits Out At Kejriwal:
Delhi BJP president alleged that the AAP using lies to collect data and trying to scam the residents of the national capital territory.
(With inputs from ANI)
