AAP Welfare Schemes Under Scanner Over 'Illegal Data Collection' Charge

New Delhi: Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena on Saturday ordered an inquiry against private persons allegedly gathering personal details of women in the name of Mahila Samman Yojna, the official said.

The AAP alleged that the BJP wanted to stop its scheme and is afraid of a defeat in the Assembly polls scheduled in February.

The Lieutenant Governor suggested that the Delhi government’s Chief Secretary inform the Election Commission of India, through the Chief Electoral Office, about the ongoing canvassing ahead of the election.

The inquiry was initiated following a complaint by Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit, the party's candidate for the New Delhi Assembly seat, who recently met with Saxena at Raj Niwas.

LG Orders Divisional Commissioner to Investigate

In a letter addressed to the chief secretary and police commissioner, LG's principal secretary said, "Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor has desired the Chief Secretary to get an inquiry conducted through Divisional Commissioner in the matter of collecting personal details and forms by non-government people." 

It said the police commissioner may direct the field officers to act as per law against any person found breaching citizens' privacy by collecting their personal details in the name of enrolling them for "benefits." 

On Wednesday, Dikshit met Saxena and expressed his apprehensions about the Mahila Samman Yojna, under which the Delhi government has promised to give every woman in the city, aged above 18, Rs 1,000 per month.

Kejriwal Reacts After Delhi LG Orders Probe Into AAP Schemes

AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal said "The situation of BJP is such that they are pleading in front of the Congress party to save them. BJP itself did not have the courage to complain but got Sandeep Dikshit to complain. Both of them want to stop AAP. I am ready to go to jail again for you. Is the country their ancestral property? Why are they not stopping the one who is distributing money, openly asking for votes in return?

The AAP has announced that if re-elected, it will increase the monthly benefit under its scheme to ₹2,100.

In a letter, Dikshit alleged that AAP workers have been going door-to-door, meeting women, and getting them to sign forms.

The letter stated, "Dikshit has urged that, based on the clarification from the Women and Child Development (WCD) Department of GNCTD, it is evident that this is a fraudulent activity by the AAP. She has called for a high-level inquiry into the matter."

WCD Department Issues Warning on Unauthorised Form Collection

Earlier this week, the WCD Department issued a public notice in newspapers, stating it would launch a digital portal to collect forms once the scheme is officially notified. The department also advised the public against filling out forms distributed by unauthorized individuals.

In response, the AAP alleged that the inquiry was initiated not by the Delhi LG but by the "office" of BJP leader Amit Shah .

The ruling party accused the BJP of disrespecting women and claimed its Mahila Samman Yojana had received overwhelming support from women in the city. The AAP stated that over 22 lakh women have already registered for the scheme.

Kejriwal Rubbishes LG Inquiry In Mahila Samman Yojana, Says BJP Afraid Of Defeat

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday accused the BJP of being "panicked" over the announcement of a monthly payment of ₹2,100 to women under the 'Mahila Samman Yojana.' He claimed the BJP was attempting to block the scheme, fearing electoral defeat in the upcoming polls.

Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal dismissed an inquiry ordered by the Lieutenant Governor (LG) into the collection of women's data through the scheme's registration as "baseless," asserting that the monetary promise was a legitimate poll announcement.

"We pledged ₹2,100 per month to all eligible women in Delhi under the Mahila Samman Yojana and free medical treatment for senior citizens under the Sanjeevani Yojana after forming the government in Delhi. What exactly do they intend to investigate?" Kejriwal questioned.

The AAP chief alleged that the BJP's interference with the schemes was a desperate attempt to counter the party's electoral prospects in the February polls.

Earlier in the day, the LG’s office announced an inquiry into allegations that private entities were gathering personal information about women under the guise of the Mahila Samman Yojana. The LG, in a letter, directed the Delhi government’s Chief Secretary to inform the Election Commission of India through the Chief Electoral Office, citing concerns over possible election-related canvassing.

BJP React On Mahila Samman Yojna Row

On Mahila Samman Yojna, BJP leader Parvesh Verma said, "This scheme has neither been passed by the Delhi government nor is there any budget provision for it. This is not a government scheme, workers of the Aam Aadmi Party are asking for mobile numbers and saying that money will come into their accounts. When women are saying how will it come, you did not ask for the bank account number, then they are saying that it will come. Now they are going to commit big cyber fraud in this too...I can say one thing that Arvind Kejriwal will lose his deposit in the New Delhi Assembly seat."