AAP slams govt over approval of high-end phones for CM, ministers

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday lashed out at the Delhi Government for approving high-end smartphones worth Rs 1.50 lakh and Rs 1.25 lakh each for the Chief Minister and cabinet ministers, respectively, accusing it of splurging taxpayers’ money while neglecting urgent civic issues faced by city residents.

AAP Delhi State president Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that the BJP leadership wasted no time in clearing the purchase of luxury phones and unlimited mobile bills for its top functionaries, but has failed to deliver on its much-publicised promise of Rs 2,500 monthly allowance for women.

“Even today, people in Delhi are grappling with waterlogging, long traffic jams, steep hike in school fee and demolition of homes, but the BJP’s priority is buying high-end mobile phones for ministers,” Bharadwaj said, adding that the government had quickly passed the proposal without any debate or scrutiny.

Bharadwaj pointed out the contrast between the swift phone approval and the committee set up to decide on the women’s allowance scheme. “When it comes to buying Rs 1.5 lakh phone and sanctioning unlimited bills for themselves, the BJP acts without delay. When it comes to women, they hide behind committees,” he said.

In a post on X, the AAP leader said: “Congratulations to the BJP CM and ministers. Their Rs 1.25–Rs 1.5 lakh phone scheme with unlimited bills has been passed. Development is happening — if not for Delhi’s people, at least for BJP’s ministers.”

Bharadwaj also questioned why the BJP government did not form a committee to debate who gets what phone or how much the monthly bill should be, sarcastically remarking that committees seem to exist only to delay welfare schemes.

Accusing the BJP of misplaced priorities, AAP said while lakhs of women continue to wait for the promised Rs 2,500 assistance since March, thousands of widows have lost pensions and families displaced by demolitions face uncertainty, the government appears more concerned about the comfort of its ministers.