ABP News on Wednesday sought to verify the claims of a 'cash-for-votes' scam against the Bharatiya Janata Party made by the Aam Aadmi Party. Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Wednesday alleged that the BJP was using money to entice voters. She said that women were being called to BJP leader Parvesh Verma's official residence, which he had been allotted when he won the Lok Sabha election in 2019. The women were then handed envelopes with Rs 1,100.


Parvesh Verma is no longer an MP but he is yet to vacate the bungalow.






When an ABP team reached the spot, it found women standing outside the bungalow of Parvesh Verma with a 'kit'. The women confirmed that they had received Rs 1,100 with instructions to "press the Lotus symbol", the BJP's election symbol, on EVMs during the elections.


A woman said on ABP's camera: "I got Rs 1,100. Everyone got the same card with their names and a registration number. They [BJP] told us that if they win, they will give us Rs 2,500." Another woman said: "They gave us Rs 1,100 and asked us to press the lotus button."


Both the women showed the card, bearing images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The card mentioned that it was a beneficiary card for 'Ladli Yojana'. Yet another woman said: "We were asked to vote for the BJP... and they gave us Rs 1,100."






When the ABP team reached the spot, it found several women outside the Bungalow. They said that they were called there and told that they would get Rs 1,100. However, as the news of media presence spread, police personnel dispersed the crowd and cordoned off the roads.


Is Ladli Scheme Real?


While there is indeed a 'Ladli Yojana' in Delhi, it is completely different from what is being portrayed. There is no government scheme of Rs 1,100. Moreover, it is in no way related to women voters. It is a scheme to promote girl child. Every girl gets Rs 10,000 at birth.


This scheme was started in 2008. Till the time the girl attains 18 years of age, she is eligible to get benefits of up to Rs 36,000, which is deposited in her bank account directly.


What Parvesh Verma Said


BJP leader Parvesh Verma, who is at the centre of the controversy, said that the money was distributed on behalf of his NGO Rashtriya Swabhiman Sansthan. He, however, did not clarify about the claims made by the women "beneficiaries", who said that they were asked to vote for the BJP. Nor did he mention why the images and PM Modi and Amit Shah were used on the "beneficiary cards".


Verma said: "Rashtriya Swabhiman Sansthan was started by my father around 25 years ago...Today I am feeling very good that Atishi ji and Kejriwal ji are appreciating the work that we are doing. I have been seeing the misery of women here, which Kejriwal ji could not see in the last 11 years..."






"When I met them, they told me that they neither have pension, nor ration cards. There is no job or facility for medicines. I decided that every month, on behalf of my organisation, we would make a scheme and help them on a monthly basis... at least I am not distributing liquor here, which the Chief Minister of Delhi was distributing all over Delhi," he said