In a fiery press conference held in New Delhi on Friday, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut launched a scathing attack on Maharashtra’s ‘Majhi Ladki Bahine Yojana’, branding it a fraud. Raut asserted that the scheme is a ploy by the grand coalition government to deceive the public ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. He alleged that the scheme would bring no real benefit to the “beloved sisters” within two months.
“The grand coalition government will pile up debt on the state and run away,” Raut warned. He claimed that the funds for the ‘CM Ladki Bahin Yojana’ are being misappropriated from the state treasury. “The Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and MLAs have looted money from contractors and the public,” Raut alleged.
Raut did not limit his criticism to the state government. He also took aim at the BJP-led central government, particularly highlighting the recent flooding in Delhi due to heavy rains. He noted that water had even entered the new Parliament building, a construction project completed just a year ago.
“How much money did the BJP government pay to the contractors for these works, and who got the commission from all this? This should be investigated,” Raut demanded. He emphasized that while the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya was constructed by Larsen & Toubro and the new Parliament by Tata, there should be an inquiry into who received other related contracts.
Further complicating matters, Raut revealed that the office of the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister has allegedly instructed departments not to fund any new projects until the ‘Ladki Bahin Yojana’ is fully implemented. According to Raut, over 1.5 crore women have applied for the scheme, with the first installment expected to be disbursed on August 19, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan. However, this has led to a freeze on contractor payments until the scheme’s obligations are met.
Raut also addressed the broader political climate, praising Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his recent efforts to challenge the government. “Rahul Gandhi has been showing his mirror to the government for the past month. They have given Modi and Shah a run for their money,” Raut remarked. He declared that the opposition is ready to face any consequences.
In a serious allegation, Raut hinted at possible conspiracies against opposition leaders. “Conspiracies are being hatched on foreign lands. We can be attacked with the help of gangsters, along with Rahul Gandhi,” he claimed, underscoring the high stakes and tensions in India’s current political landscape.