Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former West Delhi MP Parvesh Verma has denied allegations made by Delhi Chief Minister Atishi that the BJP is distributing cash to voters in Arvind Kejriwal’s New Delhi constituency. Verma countered the accusations, stating that his focus is on aiding people rather than distributing liquor, which he alleged Kejriwal’s government had done in the past.
“Yesterday, I saw Arvind Kejriwal’s tweet, and today I heard the press conference of Delhi’s temporary Chief Minister. AAP MP Sanjay Singh is also roaming around my house,” Verma said. He highlighted his organization, Rashtriya Swabhiman Sansthan, which he claims has been serving people for 25 years, including disaster relief and providing oxygen concentrators during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Helping, Not Distributing Liquor”
Verma dismissed the allegations, saying, “I feel very good that Atishi ji and Kejriwal ji are appreciating the work we are doing. I have witnessed the misery of women here, which Kejriwal ji could not see in the last 11 years.” He added that his organization has devised a scheme to assist women monthly, countering claims of cash distribution.
“I am happy about one thing: at least I am not distributing liquor, which the Chief Minister of Delhi (Arvind Kejriwal) was distributing all over Delhi,” he remarked.
AAP’s Accusations
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, addressing the media, accused Verma of distributing money to voters in the New Delhi assembly constituency. “Today, Parvesh Verma was caught red-handed giving out money at his official residence… Women from various slums were called and given Rs 1,100 in an envelope,” she said.
Atishi also claimed that crores of rupees were at Verma’s residence, urging the Election Commission to instruct raids and immediate arrests. “The BJP is trying to win a lost election,” she alleged, adding that pamphlets used in the alleged cash distribution featured images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President JP Nadda.
Controversy Over Non-Existent Scheme
The allegations come in the wake of public notices from the Department of Women and Child Development, which clarified that the Mahila Samman Yojana, purportedly linked to cash distribution, does not exist. The department termed the collection of information through registrations under the scheme as “fraud.”
Looking Ahead to Elections
The controversy is a flashpoint in Delhi’s political landscape as assembly elections are expected in early 2025. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by Kejriwal, won 62 out of 70 seats in 2020, with the BJP securing the remaining eight. Both parties appear to be gearing up for another intense electoral battle.