Patna:Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has launched a strong attack on the Bihar government’s newly launched Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana (Chief Minister Women Employment Scheme), alleging that the timing of the scheme is a blatant attempt to buy votes ahead of the upcoming legislative elections.
Key Points of Criticism:
Opportunistic Timing: Speaking at a rally in Motihari, Bihar, Ms. Gandhi questioned why the NDA government, which has been in power for years, suddenly decided to disburse funds to women just before the elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had virtually launched the scheme, under which an initial grant of ₹10,000 was transferred to the bank accounts of 75 lakh women beneficiaries.
Lack of Long-Term Guarantee: The Congress leader highlighted that the government is not promising that the financial dole will continue every month. She asked why they did not provide this assistance to women over the past two decades if their intention was genuine empowerment.
Focus on Votes, Not Respect: Priyanka Gandhi urged the women of Bihar not to be swayed by such incentives, stating that the NDA coalition is “interested only in your votes.” She asserted that the Congress party’s commitment is to provide women with “respect” and social justice, which includes promises like granting land ownership to women members of landless families.
Take the Money, Reject the Vote: In a sharp political move, Ms. Gandhi advised the women voters to accept the ₹10,000 being offered by the government but to vote for the party that is genuinely committed to their welfare and long-term security.
General Critique of NDA’s Rule: She further criticized the ruling coalition for what she alleged was a focus on winning elections at any cost, accusing them of resorting to “vote theft” and exploiting caste and religious divides. She also pointed to infrastructure failures and issues like exam paper leaks in the state.
Context of the Scheme:
The Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana is an initiative of the Bihar government aimed at promoting women’s empowerment through self-employment and livelihood opportunities. The scheme provides an initial grant of ₹10,000 to one woman from each eligible family to start a business, with the possibility of additional financial support of up to ₹2 lakh in subsequent phases. The timing of the massive fund transfer, right before the assembly polls, has made it a major point of political contention.
