Atishi accuses Delhi CM Rekha Gupta of betraying women over unfulfilled financial aid promise

Former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has strongly criticised newly sworn-in Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and the BJP-led Delhi government for failing to implement a promised financial assistance scheme for women.

In a letter to Gupta, Atishi questioned why the scheme, which was a key electoral promise, was not approved in the government’s first cabinet meeting on February 20.

Atishi urged the Chief Minister to meet with an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) delegation on Sunday to discuss the delay and take immediate steps toward fulfilling the commitment. The scheme in question was expected to provide Rs 2,500 per month to women in Delhi, as assured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a rally on January 31, 2025.

In her letter, Atishi congratulated Gupta on assuming office but pointed out that the BJP had promised that the financial aid scheme would be passed in the very first cabinet meeting. "The women of Delhi placed their trust in Modi ji’s guarantee, and now they feel deceived," she wrote.

Addressing the media, Atishi displayed campaign posters featuring Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Gupta, challenging the BJP to clarify when the promised financial support would be deposited. She questioned whether the announcement was merely an election ploy.

The issue of financial aid for women was central to the Delhi election campaign, with both AAP and BJP making competing commitments. However, with the BJP’s victory in the February 5 elections - winning 48 out of 70 seats - AAP has kept up the pressure on the new administration to honour its promises.

Following AAP’s defeat, Arvind Kejriwal met with the party’s 22 newly elected MLAs to strategise their role in the opposition. Atishi reiterated that AAP would ensure the BJP follows through on its commitments, including financial aid for women, maintaining 300 units of free electricity, and sustaining other public welfare programs.

Meanwhile, the new Delhi government, in its first cabinet meeting, approved the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme and discussed the Mahila Samridhi Yojana. Additionally, it decided to table 14 pending Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports in the upcoming assembly session, which the BJP claims will shed light on the previous AAP government's performance.

Gupta was sworn in as Delhi’s Chief Minister on February 20, along with six other MLAs inducted into her cabinet.