New Delhi, Feb 28 – Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has alleged that ₹455 crore has "disappeared" from the central government’s flagship ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ scheme. Citing an RTI revelation, Kharge said this disclosure exposes the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) claims regarding the initiative.
Taking to social media platform X, Kharge stated, "RTI has revealed that ₹455 crore has 'disappeared' from the Modi government's 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' scheme."
He further criticized the BJP government over women's safety, pointing to various incidents of violence against women. "The BJP’s recent advertisements on 'enough of attacks on women' mock the suffering of countless women who have been harassed under BJP rule over the last decade, sometimes even by BJP-affiliated individuals," he remarked.
Kharge referenced the recent rape case in a government bus in Pune, as well as the plight of women in Manipur, Hathras, and female Olympic champions, asserting that safety for women has deteriorated under the current administration.
Additionally, the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha noted that the Congress had previously questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the transparency of the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ scheme, including allegations that the government was withholding crucial data.
"Today, the latest RTI revelations have once again exposed the lies of the Modi government," he said.
The ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ scheme, launched in 2015, aims to improve the child sex ratio and promote education and welfare for girls. The fresh allegations raise concerns over fund utilization and the implementation of the initiative.
The government has yet to respond to Kharge’s claims regarding the RTI findings.