"Should have done 10 years back...": BJP's Harsh Malhotra slams AAP over 'Mahila Samman Yojna'

New Delhi [India], December 13 : Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party MP Harsh Malhotra on Friday took a dig at the Aam Aadmi Party government over its cash transfer scheme for women, 'Mahila Samman Yojna' calling it a "lie and deception."
Attacking former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, he said the AAP government should have brought this scheme 10 years back, and it is bringing it today only due to the assembly polls.
"Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, before the 2020 elections, claimed that they would bring Ayushman Bharat Yojna, which was also a deception; this is also a deception and lie," Union Minister Harsh Malhotra told ANI.
"He (Kejriwal) should have done this 10 years back...when AAP came to power in 2015. Now he is worried about sisters (women) as elections are approaching," the Lok Sabha MP from East Delhi added.
With the Delhi assembly election due in February next year, the Delhi Cabinet on Thursday approved the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, under which Rs 1,000 will be directly transferred to every eligible woman above the age of 18. The scheme will have an annual allocation of Rs 4,560 crore, according to an official statement from the Delhi government.
According to the cabinet note, approximately 38 lakh women may be eligible for the cash transfer scheme. To provide them Rs 1,000 per month, the scheme requires an annual budget allocation of Rs 4,560 crore.
However, Atishi had already clarified that the transfer of money would not happen immediately.
"Elections will be announced in 10-15 days, so it is not possible to transfer money to the account right now," former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, explained, referring to the election timeline, which may delay the process temporarily.
Kejriwal had also announced that the honorarium of Rs 1000 will be increased to Rs 2100 every month after AAP forms the government in Delhi.
Earlier in the day, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Friday said that a notification regarding 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana' was issued a day ago, and efforts are underway to start the registration process to avail the scheme in the next 7-10 days.
"This was notified last evening. Now, work is underway to work on the registration process. We will make an effort to see that in the next 7-10 days, the registration process for Mahila Samman Yojana begins," said Atishi.
"This scheme is being initiated because the Delhi government is the only government that understands that women who are not financially independent have to ask for money from a male and understands the pain of a woman. That is why this Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana is being initiated," she added.