THE VERBAL EXCHANGE WAS EXPUNGED BY THE SPEAKER FROM THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE

Congress MLA Pooja, wanted to know the time by which the state govt will start disbursing ₹2,100 per month to the women of the state

- Pawan Sharma

CHANDIGARH: The Nayab Singh Saini-led BJP government told the state assembly on Tuesday that its much-touted election promise of providing ₹2,100 per month to women is still "under consideration", evoking a sharp reaction from the Congress, which demanded a clear and definite response to the fate of Lado Lakshmi Yojana.

"The matter is under consideration," said Krishan Kumar Bedi, minister of social justice, empowerment, welfare of SCs and BCs and Antyodaya (SEWA) department.

Bedi was replying during the Question Hour to a query of Congress' Mullana assembly segment MLA Pooja, who wanted to know the time by which the state government will start disbursing ₹2,100 per month to the women of the state. The Congress MLA, Pooja referred to the minister's reply as "astounding" and insisted that the minister should give a specific reply.

The SEWA minister Bedi asserted that a guarantee given by chief minister Nayab Singh Saini was in itself a commitment to fulfilling promises.