JD(U) accuses RJD of duping women

Patna: Parliamentary affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary on Friday accused the RJD and its allies of misleading rural women by distributing what he called “fake Mai-Bahan Maan Yojana” forms, promising Rs 2,500 a month if they came to power.“It’s a kind of fraud as there is no such scheme of the state government. It’s a conspiracy, because only state employees distribute and collect forms if a genuine scheme is in place,” Choudhary told this newspaper.Explaining how welfare programmes are formally introduced, the JD(U) leader said, “People of Bihar know that any scheme is first approved by the government. After that, the concerned department decides the procedure for its implementation. Then government employees get the forms filled by potential beneficiaries. Only then can anyone avail the true benefits of a scheme.”However, RJD spokesman Chitranjan Gagan defended the distribution of forms and pamphlets, insisting it was part of normal political activity. “Every political party takes its promises to the people. Our pamphlets and forms being distributed contain the promises being made to the people, including the ‘Mai-Bahan Maan Yojana’ and 200 units of free electricity, if voted to power in the coming elections,” he said.Choudhary maintained that the opposition was deliberately targeting women, particularly those less educated in rural areas. “The opposition leaders have become restless due to the many effective schemes run by CM Nitish Kumar for the uplift of women and his growing popularity among them. Believing it impossible to even come close to power in the coming elections, they have forgotten the difference between right and wrong in despair and have started deceiving innocent people. But the public is not going to be fooled,” he said.