A fresh political controversy has erupted in Madhya Pradesh after minister Vijay Shah’s remarks on the Ladli Behna scheme. The statement triggered sharp reactions from the Congress, which accused the BJP of threatening women beneficiaries.
The issue surfaced after Shah’s comments during a meeting in Ratlam on Saturday. He reportedly linked the monthly assistance under the Ladli Behna scheme to the presence of women beneficiaries at a proposed felicitation event for Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. Shah allegedly said the monthly amount could increase by ₹250 if women attended the programme. He also warned that verification could remain pending if they stayed away.
The remarks sparked outrage across the political spectrum. Responding to the backlash, Shah issued a clarification. He said his statement was misrepresented and termed the reports misleading. Shah claimed the government remains committed to women empowerment and has no ill intent towards beneficiaries.
He further said officials had flagged cases where ineligible women were availing benefits. Shah stated that discussions focused only on ensuring that deserving women receive support under the scheme.
Congress hit back strongly and demanded Shah’s resignation. State Congress president Jitu Patwari said BJP should seek accountability instead of protecting a controversial minister. He accused Shah of repeatedly making offensive remarks, including past comments on Colonel Sofia Qureshi.
Patwari said the chief minister’s silence reflected approval of the insult. He also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi on BJP’s stance towards women.
The Ladli Behna scheme, launched ahead of the 2023 Assembly polls, currently provides ₹1,500 per month to over 1.26 crore women. The government has promised to raise the amount to ₹3,000 by 2028.
