AAP workers protest delay in Rs 2,500 monthly aid to women

The police detained a large number of AAP’s women wing workers who were protesting against the BJP government for failing to provide Rs 2,500 monthly aid, near Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Saturday. The protesters, accompanied by AAP’s women wing president Sarika Chaudhary, had gathered to hold the BJP government accountable for what they called was a “broken promise”. The protest turned tense as the police detained several women, leading to sharp criticism from AAP, which accused the BJP of using force to silence legitimate public grievances. AAP Delhi state president Saurabh Bharadwaj criticised the BJP for “celebrating 100 days in office with false claims” while “women protesting peacefully outside the stadium were met with police high-handedness”. The Rs 2,500 allowance was a key poll promise by the BJP during the Delhi Assembly elections. AAP leaders allege that despite assurances from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP’s newly elected government, not a single woman has received the promised financial support. “The BJP had promised Rs 2,500 to Delhi women in its government’s first Cabinet meeting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself said during a rally in Dwarka that Delhi’s women will receive Rs 2,500. Now, the BJP is going back on its word,” the party’s women’s wing chief said. Chaudhary accused the BJP of failing to deliver on other promises, including free gas cylinders on Holi and Diwali. “Instead of providing free cylinders, the BJP-led Central Government increased the LPG prices by Rs 50,” she added. The AAP leader claimed that since the BJP came to power, fees of private school had increased, putting an additional burden on families. “This is not the right government for Delhi. In just 100 days, it has failed to meet the basic expectations of the public,” Chaudhary said.

Delhi