AAP’s political gimmick: BJP on old age pension

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva has accused the AAP government of announcement of 80,000 new old age pensions as a political gimmick, claiming the scheme was a result of BJP’s persistent efforts and political pressure.

Speaking on the matter, Sachdeva emphasised that for the past ten years, the AAP government had failed to issue any new pensions. He highlighted the existing pensioners were already facing significant delays in receiving their dues. "The announcement of 80,000 new pensions should have been an administrative decision from either the Chief Minister or the Social Welfare Minister. Instead, former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s announcement shows that this is nothing more than a political stunt, which is likely to be shelved after the elections," Sachdeva said.

Sachdeva also criticised Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Atishi, accusing her of being a "dummy Chief Minister" and stated that the Delhi government was being remote-controlled by Arvind Kejriwal. "This announcement is another example of Kejriwal misleading the public. He falsely claimed that the pensions in Delhi are the highest in the country, when in fact, Haryana’s BJP government provides the highest pension at Rs 2,750 per month," Sachdeva pointed out.

The BJP leader further stressed the inadequacy of the pension announcement, stating that more than one million senior citizens in Delhi were are in need of pensions. "Despite the promise of 80,000 new pensions, it is clear that less than half of the seniors will benefit. This demonstrates how the AAP government has failed to address the real needs of our elderly population," Sachdeva added.

Sachdeva promised that if the BJP comes to power in the upcoming February 2025 elections, it would ensure 100 percent coverage of old age pensions for senior citizens in Delhi. "Under BJP’s leadership, all senior citizens will be provided pensions on demand, ensuring that no elderly person is left behind," he said.