Non-govt officials' getting data: Cong; LG starts probe

The office of lieutenant governor VK Saxena has written to the Delhi police commissioner and the chief secretary, asking them to conduct an inquiry into the collection of personal details and forms by non-government officials for supposed state schemes, and to also inform the Election Commission of India about data collection.

- HT Correspondent

NEW DELHI:

Saxena's office sent the letters on December 26 after Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit approached the LG, claiming that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) functionaries were going door-to-door to collect data for the Mahila Samman Yojana - a scheme which offers ₹1,000 per month to the Capital's women - despite the state's women and child development (WCD) department stating that a portal will soon be launched to register for the scheme.

The LG also ordered an inquiry into Dikshit's allegations that cash worth crores is being brought into Delhi from Punjab ahead of the upcoming elections, and asked police to inform the top brass of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan police to stay vigilant around Delhi's borders.

In response, the AAP claimed that the investigations were a "sham" that was ordered at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Delhi government, in its 2024-25 budget, announced the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojana for a monthly payment of ₹1,000 for all women voters in Delhi. Though the scheme is yet to take off, Arvind Kejriwal on December 12 said that the amount would be raised to ₹2,100 if the AAP retains power in Delhi, and the party has been running a registration drive for the scheme over the past week.