AAP government has left 'entire exchequer empty': Delhi CM Rekha Gupta

NEW DELHI: CM Rekha Gupta said Sunday the previous

AAP

dispensation left the state coffers "empty", but assured that the BJP govt was "committed" to rolling out the Rs 2,500-per month honorarium scheme for eligible women.
Addressing a joint press meet with Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva after a legislative party huddle, Gupta said several rounds of meetings had been held with govt officials on the issue in the past four days since she took over.
"The condition the previous govt left for us... when we sit with officers to review the financial status... the entire govt exchequer is found empty," Gupta said, while replying to a question on preparations to implement the women's aid scheme. "But giving the money to women is a routine work we have to do. We will surely implement the scheme with detailed planning. It's our commitment. We will do it 1,000%," the CM said.
According to an estimate, after excluding taxpayers, govt servants and beneficiaries of other state welfare schemes, around 38 lakh women above 18 will be eligible for assistance under this scheme. The govt may need over Rs 11,000 crore annually for this.

Will focus on making Delhi a 'viksit rajdhani': Sachdeva
Giving a monthly honorarium of Rs 2,500 per month to women in Delhi under the '

Mahila Samriddhi Yojana

' was one of the prominent electoral promises made by BJP in the run-up to the assembly polls.
The Delhi CM said the first day of the Delhi assembly session on Monday will see the election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker followed by the newly-elected legislators taking oath. She added that the three-day assembly session will focus on discussions about development projects. "The most important aspect of the session, as we committed, will be the laying of the pending CAG reports in the house and the previous govt must now answer the people of Delhi for the misuse of their hard-earned money," Gupta said, adding that all commitments made by BJP will be fulfilled.
On former CM Atishi's statement that her govt followed the procedure and forwarded the CAG reports to the lieutenant governor for approval before tabling them in the house, Sachdeva said the AAP dispensation was in a habit of "peddling lies." "They should be ready to reply (on CAG reports)," he added. The assembly session is starting Monday and will continue till Thursday.
Sachdeva also said that the BJP govt in the next five years will focus on making Delhi a "viksit rajdhani" (developed capital). "All MLAs discussed in the meeting on how to take forward the developmental works in their respective constituencies. Our govt will complete all the projects and fulfil the expectations of the people. AAP's attempts to defame the BJP by spreading lies will be countered by the work of our legislators," the Delhi BJP president said.