Eknath Shinde defends "Ladki Bahin Yojana", says "Opposition opposed scheme from day one"

New Delhi [India], October 7 (ANI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday slammed the opposition for criticising the Ladki Bahin Yojana, and stated that the opposition has opposed the program since its inception, even taking it to court due to fear of its popularity.
"Opposition has been opposing the Ladki Bahin Yojana since day 1. They had been saying that this scheme was bad and just an election 'jumla', they even went to court because they were scared as this scheme had become a superhit," CM Shinde told ANI.
The Maharashtra CM also challenged the opposition to showcase their own achievements during their 2.5-year tenure.
"Ours is a government that provides. We do what we say...I challenge them to show us what they did in 2.5 years...The public will decide...They have decided that Mahayuti will form the government once again with full majority," he said.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray criticised the Maharashtra government's Ladki Bahin Yojana, saying the ruling BJP has only remembered the scheme because they're losing elections.
"..BJP govt has remembered this scheme when it is losing elections...MVA govt will form in the state and it will give a higher amount (under the scheme)," he said.

NCP-SCP leader Jitendra Awhad alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Maharashtra does not have money for any yojanas.
"No yojanas can work in Maharashtra because it does not have money. Therefore, they have asked the Reserve Bank to give Rs 3000 crore in a week. There has been no state in the history of this country's independence that asks for Rs 3000 crore in a week...How will they return this money?" he said.
The Maharashtra government launched the scheme on August 17 to provide financial assistance to women and make them more independent and self-reliant. The scheme aims to empower women through financial assistance, providing Rs 1,500 per month to women aged 21-65 with an annual income of less than Rs 2.5 lakh.
The "Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin" scheme is modelled after Madhya Pradesh's "Ladli Behna Yojana" and aims to provide long-term financial support to women in need.
The flagship scheme is only applicable to women who belong to financially disadvantaged families. As per the criteria, women from families with less than Rs 2.5 lakh household income per annum are eligible. (ANI)