Jairam Ramesh Criticizes Maharashtra Government Over Ladki Bahin Yojana Scheme
New Delhi [India], September 30: Congress General Secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh launched a strong attack on the Maharashtra government regarding the Ladki Bahin Yojana scheme. In a post on X, Ramesh cited a media report quoting Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who expressed concerns that the scheme could delay subsidy payments for other programs.
Ramesh stated, “After the landslide defeats faced by Mahayuti candidates across Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha Elections, the khokhe sarkaar’s strategists came up with the Ladki Bahin Yojana to salvage their fortunes. It was a purely political ploy, introduced without any forethought or concern for the finances of the state. Now, Nitin Gadkari, a senior Union Minister, has admitted that Maharashtra is in such fiscal distress that it cannot pay out subsidies for other schemes.”
He further alleged that due to an “emergency fund shortage,” aid for families of farmers who died by suicide was cancelled and only restored after pressure from the Opposition. Ramesh highlighted that over 400 contractors to the PWD have remained unpaid for 15 months, Maharashtra’s fiscal deficit has crossed Rs. 1 lakh crore, and the total debt burden has crossed Rs. 7 lakh crore, which is almost 20 percent of the state GDP and the second-highest in India. He noted that Maharashtra’s GDP growth has slowed to just over 5 percent this year, while Telangana is growing at 13 percent, and Karnataka and Himachal are growing at 10 percent.
Sharpening his attacks on the Maharashtra government, Ramesh said that the Mahayuti is a government of horse-trading and backroom politics. “It does not have public legitimacy, nor does it have the ability to govern. It is a political alliance built on the shared interest of looting from the state’s exchequer. They have overseen a decade where the once nation-leading state of Maharashtra has fallen behind other top-performing states. A landslide defeat awaits the Mahayuti. The incoming MVA Sarkar will restore Maharashtra’s economic growth story, rescue it from fiscal mismanagement, and deliver on both existing subsidies and other commitments to Maharashtra’s families,” Ramesh said.
Doubts Revealed
Jairam Ramesh -: Jairam Ramesh is a leader from the Congress party, which is one of the major political parties in India.
Maharashtra Government -: The Maharashtra Government is the ruling body of the state of Maharashtra, which is one of the states in India.
Ladki Bahin Yojana -: Ladki Bahin Yojana is a scheme introduced by the Maharashtra government, likely aimed at helping girls and women.
Political ploy -: A political ploy is a strategy or action taken by politicians to gain an advantage, often seen as manipulative.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari -: Nitin Gadkari is a senior politician in India and a Union Minister, which means he is part of the central government.
Subsidy payments -: Subsidy payments are financial aids given by the government to help reduce the cost of services or goods for the public.
Fiscal deficit -: Fiscal deficit is when a government’s total expenditures exceed the revenue that it generates, excluding money from borrowings.
Debt -: Debt is the amount of money that the government owes to lenders.
GDP growth -: GDP growth refers to the increase in the value of all goods and services produced in a state or country over time.
Mahayuti government -: Mahayuti government refers to the coalition government in Maharashtra, formed by multiple political parties coming together.
Mismanagement -: Mismanagement means handling something poorly or inefficiently, leading to problems.
Public legitimacy -: Public legitimacy means the acceptance and support of the government by the general public.
