AAP's Mahila Samman Yojana triggers row: Newspaper ads, war of words with BJP and more

The 'Sanjeevani Yojana' promises to provide free healthcare for all senior citizens in Delhi.

Amid the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) campaign for Delhi Assembly polls, the state government's Women and Child Development Department on Wednesday morning issued a public notification saying that "any political party collecting information from applicants in the name of the ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana’ is committing fraud and has no authority”.

The two AAP flagship schemes – Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevani Yojana – were announced in the run up to Delhi Assembly Elections 2025 scheduled early next year.

Kejriwal along with Atishi had kickstarted registration to give Rs 2,100 to non-tax paying women under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojna, and provide free treatment to those over the age of 60 in government as well as private hospitals under the Sanjeevani Yojna.

What does the ad say?

The department said in the communique that it received information through media reports and social media posts that a political party claimed to give Rs 2,100 per month to the women of Delhi under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana.

The department said no such scheme was in existence and any individual or political party collecting forms or applications was committing fraud.

"It is emphasized that since no such Scheme is in existence, the question of acceptance of the form/application for registration under this non-existent Scheme does not arise. Any private person/political party who is collecting forms/applications or collecting information from applicants in the name of this scheme is committing fraud and has no authority," it stated. "If a person/entity calls you or visits you with the promise to provide benefit of free treatment under this supposed non-existent scheme or provide you some "Health/Sanjeevani Scheme Card in this regard, then you are hereby advised to: (1) not believe in any promise of free treatment under the supposed non-existent "Sanjeevani scheme" (2) not to provide any personal detail to anybody claiming to provide benefits under the scheme (3) not to affix your signature or thumbprint on any document unknowingly."

What does BJP say?

Earlier, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj accused AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal of misleading Delhiites with false promises under the Sanjeevani and Mahila Samman schemes, the former Chief Minister has claimed the saffron party is “badly upset” with the schemes launched by his party.

Addressing a press conference, Swaraj called the Aam Aadmi Party government a “failed administration” and highlighted a Rs 7,000-crore deficit under Kejriwal’s leadership.

Swaraj claimed that Delhi’s health secretary publicly denied the existence of ‘Sanjeevani’ scheme, calling it a “fabrication” by the AAP government.

She further slammed the Mahila Samman scheme, labelling it a "hoax”.

“The promised Rs 2,100 for women is a mere gimmick,” she said, adding the cabinet note only approved Rs 1,000, an amount already announced in March before the Lok Sabha elections.

The BJP leader accused the AAP government of deliberately stalling the Modi government’s welfare schemes, including Ayushman Bharat, which remains unimplemented in Delhi, a statement said.

Swaraj highlighted the AAP’s “failure” in Punjab, noting that women there have not received any promised funds despite two years of AAP rule, it added. She also questioned Kejriwal’s priorities, accusing him of focusing on misleading narratives rather than addressing critical issues like air pollution, the condition of the Yamuna River, and Delhi’s overall development.

“The AAP government has consistently misled the people of Delhi and brought the state into financial ruin. The people are ready for change, and BJP will bring the transparency and governance Delhi deserves,” she said.

How did AAP react?

Shortly after the order was issued, Kejriwal attacked the Centre. "The Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevani Yojana have rattled them. Within the next few days, they plan to arrest Atishi ji in a fake case. Before that, senior AAP leaders would be raided," he said in a post on X.