Maharashtra Minister’s Take Money Advice to Women Sparks Row

Mumbai: Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Jaykumar Gore came under fire after urging women to accept money from the offerer, but they did not forget that they were getting Rs 1,500 every month under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin’ scheme. The minister urged women to remain loyal to CM Fadnavis while voting in local elections.

Addressing a poll rally in Solapur, the state’s Rural Development Minister advised women to accept money from whoever offers it but vote only for the BJP-led alliance.

“Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis brought the Ladki Bahin scheme for our beloved sisters. It was not for any caste or sect, but for our sisters. In fact, when a brother goes to his sister on Raksha Bandhan, he looks at his wife while putting Rs 100 on a plate. If his wife nods, he puts it on the plate, otherwise he puts the note back in his pocket,” Gore said.

“Take money from anyone; it doesn’t matter. But don’t vote for them. While voting, don’t forget the Rs 1,500 given by Devabhau. Stay loyal. If Devabhau is not in power, money will stop coming to your accounts. You cannot even get Rs 100 from your husbands,” the minister said.

Gore claimed that the CM gave women self-respect. “Earlier, we saw that they had to reach out to their husbands or men in the house for Rs 100. Today, money is coming into women’s accounts. The sister, who had to reach out earlier, today her husband asks, is there any money left in your account? This respect has been given by Devabhau and the BJP. Don’t forget such a brother,” he said.

In a harsh blow to Mahayuti allies, the minister said that although some parties in the ruling party claimed that they had the treasure, the final approval belonged to the BJP.

Elections to 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats will be held on December 2 and votes will be counted on December 3. More than 1.07 crore voters will elect 6859 members and 288 mayors.

Criticizing the minister, State Congress President Harswardhan Sapkal said that the BJP was embarrassing democracy. “The ministers’ public admission only confirms the vote theft exposed by the Congress and Rahul Gandhi,” he said.