Women volunteers from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged a protest outside BJP leader Parvesh Verma’s residence, demanding Rs 1,100. In a dramatic response, Verma welcomed the protesters with tea, coffee, and biscuits, turning the event into a spectacle.
Verma’s Response
Speaking to the media, Verma emphasized his hospitality, saying, “The sisters who came to meet me have come to my house in this cold. If someone comes to my house, I will respect them. My wife, daughter, and I have brought tea and coffee for them.”
He further encouraged women voters from the New Delhi assembly constituency to get their Ladli Yojna cards made, promising swift processing.
“Anyone who doesn’t have a card made, they can come to my house and get the card made. If you are a voter of New Delhi Vidhan Sabha, come now… get the card made right away, you can take it with you. There will be no delay, not even 24 hours,” Verma assured.
AAP’s Allegations of Bribery
The protest comes amid AAP’s allegations that the BJP is distributing cash to voters in the New Delhi constituency, where Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is contesting. AAP leader Atishi accused Verma of distributing Rs 1,100 to voters from his official residence.
During a press conference on December 25, Atishi claimed, “Today, Parvesh Verma was caught red-handed giving out money at his official residence. Women from various slums in the New Delhi constituency were called there and given Rs 1,100 in an envelope.”
She alleged that crores of rupees in cash were still present at Verma’s residence and urged the Election Commission to act decisively.
“I want to inform the ED and CBI that cash worth crores of rupees is still at Parvesh Verma’s house. I urge the Election Commission to have the ED and Delhi Police raid his official residence and arrest him immediately,” Atishi said.
Election Commission’s Role and Context
Atishi’s claims come on the heels of a public notice issued by the Department of Women and Child Development, which called AAP’s “Mahila Samman Yojana” non-existent. The scheme had promised Rs 2,100 per month for women in Delhi but was deemed unofficial and unnotified by the department.
AAP’s accusations against the BJP and the protest outside Verma’s residence have heightened political tensions ahead of the Delhi assembly elections, scheduled for early 2025.
In the previous 2020 elections, AAP dominated with 62 of the 70 assembly seats, leaving the BJP with eight. Both parties are expected to intensify their campaigns in the coming weeks.