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AAP attacks BJP over Laxmi Yojana, says govt wants to exclude most women in Capital
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New DelhiJul 30, 2026 01:51 AM IST The AAP on Wednesday attacked the BJP-led Delhi government’s monthly financial assistance scheme for women, alleging that the eligibility criteria have been laid out in a way that would exclude most women in the Capital. Hitting out at the government which announced that women with three children are not eligible, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said it was confusing for the Hindus as RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has asked them to have many children.“Mohan Bhagwat is saying that every Hindu should have as many children as possible and Rekha Gupta is saying that if you have more than three children, you will not get the benefit under the Delhi Lakshmi Yojna,” read a post by Kejriwal on X. “The helpless Hindus are confused. Rekha ji and Bhagwat ji should tell the Hindus what exactly they should do,” he said. Bhagwat, at an event in Lucknow in February, had expressed concern over “a declining Hindu population”, suggesting that Hindu families should consider having at least three children. AAP’s Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj, meanwhile, told The Indian Express: “The government is just trying to exclude as many people as possible who can benefit from the scheme.” “They have excluded women who have more than three children … Then you will have to show proof that you have lived here for more than 10 years, which will exclude migrant labourers. So they are trying to exclude everyone who needs the money the most,” he said. The government had on Tuesday cleared the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana which will provide a monthly assistance of Rs 2,500 to women from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS). However, unlike similar schemes rolled out by several states, a detailed set of eligibility criteria for beneficiaries were also announced.Story continues below this ad Women already receiving benefits under any other financial assistance scheme or pension, government employees, women with more than three living children, women from families with annual electricity consumption exceeding 2,400 units, those from families with a member employed by the government, women who own a four-wheeler, those who pay income tax or GST, and ones with a criminal record are ineligible. The government, however, had said that around 17 lakh women will benefit from the scheme. “This government’s image is bad… which is why they had to implement this policy, but they are just doing it to check the box, like a formality,” Bharadwaj claimed. “Before the Delhi elections, all of them — the Prime Minister, the BJP national president, the party spokespersons and leaders — claimed that every woman in Delhi would get Rs 2,500 per month. But what is the BJP doing now? I do not believe they want to give it to anyone at all; their intentions are so bad,” he said at a press conference.Story continues below this ad “They said women aged between 21 and 60 are eligible and the money will be given to only one woman per family. During elections, you ask for votes from everyone. But when it comes to giving money, you will give to only one,” Bharadwaj said. Devansh Mittal is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in the New Delhi City bureau. He reports on urban policy, civic governance, and infrastructure in the National Capital Region, with a growing focus on housing, land policy, transport, and the disruption economy and its social implications. Professional Background Education: He studied Political Science at Ashoka University. Core Beats: His reporting focuses on policy and governance in the National Capital Region, one of the largest urban agglomerations in the world. He covers housing and land policy, municipal governance, urban transport, and the interface between infrastructure, regulation, and everyday life in the city. Recent Notable Work His recent reporting includes in-depth examinations of urban policy and its on-ground consequences: An investigation into subvention-linked home loans that documented how homebuyers were dr
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Tuesday directed the state Home Department to examine the demand for the withdrawal of cases registered against those who took to the streets in solidarity with the recent students’ protests in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Earlier in the day, Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan wrote a letter to the Chief Minister, demanding that all cases registered in Kerala in this regard be withdrawn unconditionally.The Chief Minister’s Office said the letter has been handed over to the Home Department for further action. Police sources said the exact number of cases registered in Kerala in connection with the protests was not known. Most of the cases were registered as bailable offences for unlawful assembly or gathering at public places without permission. The Opposition Leader, in his letter, said that according to reports, police had registered cases against around 5,000 people across the state for participating in these protests. While the Union government had agreed to withdraw all cases as part of the settlement with Cockroach Janta Party leaders to end the Jantar Mantar protest, there has been no such decision from the Congress-led UDF government in Kerala. Vijayan also pointed out that Satheesan had joined the Congress agitation in Delhi. “It is inappropriate that the government led by you (Satheesan) in Kerala has filed several cases against those who gathered here in support of the Delhi agitation. It is highly condemnable that even participants in peaceful demonstrations and cultural gatherings are facing cases,” Vijayan said, pointing out that rapper Vedan, who participated in a protest in Ernakulam, was booked by police. Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More Tags: CJP Protest Pinarayi Vijayan V D Satheesan
New DelhiJul 29, 2026 02:51 AM IST The BJP government in the Capital moved a step closer to delivering its key poll promise in the last Assembly elections as the Cabinet on Tuesday cleared the ‘Delhi Lakshmi Yojana’ that offers a monthly assistance of Rs 2,500 to women from Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). However, unlike similar schemes rolled out by several states, this one comes with a detailed set of eligibility conditions, exclusions and guidelines on how the assistance can be used. The scheme is expected to benefit about 17 lakh women in the city, according to officials. A budget allocation of Rs 5,110 crore was made for this scheme in the budget 2026-27.According to information shared by the Chief Minister’s Office, the scheme will cover eligible women between 21 and 60 years of age whose family income is up to Rs 2.50 lakh per annum. Women with more than three children won’t be able to avail the benefits. The eligible women will not get cash in hand. Rather, they can avail the aid in two ways — invest the entire amount in Recurring Deposit (RD) or Fixed Deposit (FD) accounts or save Rs 1500 and get remaining. But that too will be credited through digital rupee wallet. “The registration portal for the scheme will be launched from August 1. The government aims to release the first instalment on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan on August 28 to eligible beneficiaries,” announced Chief Minister Gupta after the Cabinet meeting. She added, “The scheme would usher in a new chapter of self-reliance for lakhs of women. The Delhi government has fulfilled this important promise made to women within just over a year of assuming office.” Two options to avail aid Explaining about the two options to avail aid, a senior official said that it has been designed to give beneficiaries flexibility while encouraging both immediate financial support and long-term financial security.Story continues below this ad Women whose families require regular monthly expenditure can opt for the first model with Rs 1,000 credited every month into a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) wallet for day-to-day household needs, while Rs 1,500 simultaneously invested in a recurring deposit (RD) or fixed deposit (FD) account. “This ensures that alongside meeting immediate needs, beneficiaries also build a savings corpus over time,” the official explained. “Alternatively, beneficiaries who wish to maximise their long-term savings may choose to receive the entire Rs 2,500 every month in an RD or FD account. This option allows them to accumulate a larger amount with interest over the duration of the scheme. What’s not allowed CBDC Wallet, officials said, has been designed to ensure that government assistance is utilised for constructive household expenditure and not for “socially undesirable purposes”. Accordingly, the wallet will be configured with a negative list, which digitally blocks transactions relating to specified categories of goods and services, the officials added.Story continues below this ad As per the guidelines, the amount available in the CBDC Wallet cannot be used for the purchase of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, lottery tickets, gambling and betting services and any other goods or services prohibited by the Government from time to time, said officials. “The restrictions are enforced technologically through the CBDC platform itself, meaning transactions falling under these prohibited merchant categories will not be permitted. All other legitimate day-to-day household purchases and permitted goods and services can continue to be made using the wallet,” said an official. Another official said, “This innovation combines financial assistance with responsible utilisation of public funds and is one of the distinguishing features of the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana.” While the government has shortlisted banks, it will pick the bank giving the highest interest rate on RD and FD accounts, said sour
Nandan Nilekani to lead high-powered exam reform task force, says PM Modi. (File Photo) 3 min readJul 28, 2026 04:51 PM IST First published on: Jul 28, 2026 at 04:51 PM IST By Pratyush Kanth The defining story of the recent student movement is not the protest itself. Democracies are meant to witness protests. The defining story is how the Government of India responded. For nearly a decade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been portrayed by his political opponents and sections of the international media as an authoritarian leader intolerant of dissent. Every political controversy has been presented as fresh evidence to reinforce that narrative. The recent student movement has challenged that assumption.Faced with student protests at Jantar Mantar, the Modi government had several options. It could have dug in its heels, dismissed the agitation, or prolonged the confrontation. Instead, it chose accountability and dialogue. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, accepting political responsibility despite his widely acknowledged contributions to educational reforms. More importantly, Prime Minister Modi entrusted senior Union ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh with negotiating directly with representatives of the protesting students, including the Cockroach Janta Party. Those negotiations culminated in a peaceful settlement. Rahul Gandhi and Congress attempted to reduce a genuine student movement into another anti-Modi political campaign. Rather than helping build consensus, they tried to weaponise student anxiety for electoral advantage. They wanted confrontation. The government chose reconciliation. Critics may argue that political considerations influenced the government’s decisions. Naturally, they did. Politics is inseparable from democracy. What matters is the outcome. The government listened, accepted responsibility and altered its position in response to public sentiment. That is democratic confidence, not authoritarian insecurity. Nor was this an isolated instance. The repeal of the three farm laws remains the clearest example. PM Modi addressed the nation, acknowledged that his government had failed to convince a section of farmers, apologised and withdrew the legislation. Similarly, numerous policies and legislative proposals have evolved after consultations with citizens, state governments, parliamentary committees and industry stakeholders. Through initiatives such as MyGov and Mann Ki Baat, the Modi government has consistently sought direct engagement with citizens rather than insulating itself from public opinion. None of this places the government beyond criticism. Democracies require scrutiny. Opposition parties, civil society and the media must continue questioning those in power. But criticism must also acknowledge facts that challenge preconceived narratives. The students were never enemies of the republic. They are India’s future administrators, entrepreneurs, teachers, scientists and political leaders. Engaging them through dialogue reaffirmed a simple democratic truth: Governments derive legitimacy not only from elections but also from their willingness to listen between elections. This episode also deserves closer attention internationally. Too often, commentary on India begins with a conclusion and then searches for supporting evidence. The world’s largest democracy is far more complex than such simplistic binaries allow. When India protested, PM Modi chose dialogue. He chose accountability. He chose democracy. That may disappoint Rahul Gandhi, Congress and many of PM Modi’s international critics who have invested years in portraying him as an authoritarian. But it is a fact, and it deserves to be acknowledged. The writer is national spokesperson, BJP
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