Cash incentive for 1.31 crore women: Stalin’s Rs 5,000 outreach draws fire from BJP and Vijay | India News

New Delhi: Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu MK StalinKalaina’s announcement on Friday to deposit Rs 5,000 each to 1.31 crore women beneficiaries under the Women’s Rights Scheme has drawn sharp criticism from the BJP and other opposition parties, who term the move politically motivated ahead of assembly elections.Stalin said the money was deposited in advance to counter efforts to stall the scheme. “You would have received Rs 5,000 this morning. I have decided to pay this amount due to attempts (by vested interests) to stall the scheme citing the upcoming elections,” he said.“Rs 3,000 as advance for the months of February, March, and April, with a summer special package of Rs 2,000! A total of Rs 5,000 has been deposited this morning to all 1.31 crore beneficiaries of the Kalaignar Women’s Rights Scheme,” he added to X.Reacting strongly, BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan criticized Stalin for blaming the Center and alleged that the decision was driven by electoral concerns. In a post on X, he said the CM’s “habit of blaming the central government for all his failures” and added that “Tamil Nadu CM is announcing this due to election fear and fever.. @Arivalayam not confident of winning due to high anti-incumbency in Tamil Nadu.”He also credited the Centre’s initiatives for enabling direct transfers, saying the state government should “appreciate and thank our Hon @PMOIndia who launched #JanDhanAccount and #DigitalIndia” and added that “Hon @narendramodi jis #Mudhra loan has benefited over 1 crore women in Tamil Nadu and made them self-motivated women.”BJP spokesperson Narayanan Tirupathi also attacked the announcement saying, “… 5 thousand by luring the women and luring the public. If MK Stalin thought he could seduce the masses, I think he was mistaken. Tamil people are not stupid. Tamil people still remember that Stalin’s government, DMK government did injustice to the people of Tamil Nadu. They have seen a deterioration in law and order in the last five years, and crimes against women, especially crimes against girls in schools, will not be forgotten. People will not vote for DMK even if they pay Rs 50,000… It was a dictatorial government in Tamil Nadu that lasted for five years…”In response to criticism, Stalin defended the project as a commitment to women. “For the women of Tamil Nadu, this women’s rights grant is a promise made by Stalin. Whoever tries to create obstacles, I will not back down,” he said.“Also, the monthly entitlement of Rs 1,000 will be increased to Rs 2,000 after the DMK returns to power this year,” Stalin said. “I appeal to sisters to use the amount wisely for your children’s education needs, buying medicines or other essentials.”Meanwhile, Tamilga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay also questioned CM Stalin’s announcement of a Rs 2,000 “summer special package” and advance credit under the Kalaignar Women’s Rights Scheme, alleging that the decision was prompted by growing support for his party among women, which he claimed had created fear among Munnetragvi.In a post on X, TVK chief Vijay asked why donations, usually deposited on the 15th of every month, were announced and deposited on the 13th and why a “summer special package” was suddenly introduced.“How come it is suddenly announced that the new summer special package is Rs 2000? Is summer coming only this year or what? Why is the women’s rights amount, which is usually deposited on the 15th of every month, being deposited on the 13th today and specially declared?” he asked.Vijay also alleged that the real reason behind the announcement was the growing public backlash against his party, especially among women. Referring to the party’s whistle symbol, Vijay claimed that the “wave of applause” and women’s support had created fear in the ruling DMK.DMK leader TKS Elangovan also attacked the BJP, saying, “The BJP is ‘anti-Tamil’, trying to block women’s welfare schemes in Tamil Nadu,” accusing the party of trying to derail a welfare initiative.Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu BJP chief Naynar Nagendran accused the DMK of “cheating” the people with false promises and failing to fulfill its promises in 2021, as political wrangling over women’s entitlement schemes intensified ahead of the polls.