NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of collecting personal data of women voters under the pretext of its ‘Mahila Samman Yojana,’ alleging that this practice poses a significant security threat. The allegations have intensified the political discourse ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.
BJP leaders, including former Union Minister Smriti Irani, have alleged that AAP is using welfare schemes like the ‘Mahila Samman Yojana’ to gather sensitive personal information such as phone numbers, addresses, and family details of women voters. Irani, during public meetings in Okhla and Rohini, claimed this data collection is a “security threat” and accused AAP of potentially misusing the information.
“Recently, AAP workers have been collecting personal details from women under the pretext of enrolling them for the Mahila Samman Yojana. This sensitive information could end up in the wrong hands, such as scrap dealers or liquor shops, putting women’s security at risk,” Irani said.
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The BJP also criticized the AAP government for its alleged failure to deliver on promises of clean drinking water and quality healthcare, questioning its credibility and intent behind such schemes.
The AAP has strongly denied the allegations, asserting that the ‘Mahila Samman Yojana’ is a genuine welfare initiative aimed at providing financial assistance to women. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal stated that all data collected is with the consent of the beneficiaries and is securely handled to ensure transparency.
Kejriwal remarked, “This is nothing but a baseless political ploy by the BJP to tarnish the reputation of our government. The scheme is designed to empower women, and the BJP is spreading misinformation to mislead the public.”
The allegations have deepened the political divide between the BJP and AAP. While the BJP demands an inquiry into the matter, AAP accuses the BJP of diverting attention from real issues like unemployment and inflation.
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With data privacy and women’s safety emerging as critical issues in the campaign, the controversy is expected to shape the narrative leading up to the elections.
BJP’s Delhi President Virendra Sachdeva added weight to the allegations, stating, “The AAP government has crossed all limits of political ethics. Collecting personal data of women under the guise of welfare schemes is not only unethical but also a violation of their privacy. We demand an immediate investigation into this matter and assurance from AAP that such practices will stop immediately.”
As the issue continues to gain traction, it remains to be seen how both parties address the growing concerns over data privacy and political ethics in the run-up to the elections.
