Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday hit out at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), asserting the opposition party cannot dictate her government’s agenda while reiterating the BJP dispensation’s commitment to fulfilling its poll promises. “Nobody needs to remind us how many days are left... We will work as per our agenda, they will not dictate it,” said Gupta.
The AAP has been mounting pressure on the newly-formed BJP government to expedite the rollout of its promised scheme of providing `2,500 monthly assistance for women. The party has consistently raised the issue in the first assembly session and staged multiple protests.
In the run-up to the BJP-led Delhi government’s first budget, Gupta held a series of meetings, including with women’s groups, to address key issues concerning women’s safety, financial assistance, education and infrastructure. As part of these consultations, she also interacted with private school associations and trade bodies to gather inputs for the ‘Viksit Delhi Budget’ set to be presented between March 24 and 26.
Gupta led a detailed discussion with women’s groups during the ‘Mahila Samvad’ at the Delhi Vidhan Sabha, where the participants voiced concerns about security, financial empowerment, better educational opportunities, installation of CCTV cameras and access to sanitation facilities. She assured that their feedback would be taken into account in the budget.
“Detailed dialogue was held with various women’s organisations for the expectations and suggestions of the developed Delhi Budget 2025-26. During this, important topics related to women’s empowerment and welfare were discussed. Work will be done towards incorporating the suggestions received in this meaningful discussion in the draft of the upcoming budget,” she said.
She highlighted the ongoing consultations with women’s organisations for the upcoming Viksit Delhi Budget and said the discussions covered various issues, including health, safety and economic empowerment. “All expectations of women from the budget were discussed in detail. We will ensure they are incorporated into government policies,” the Chief Minister said.
In the Mahila Samvad on the Viksit Delhi budget, women mainly raised issues like women safety, financial assistance, increasing women’s participation, better education, CCTV cameras and availability of toilets.
She said that “the work which the Delhi government could not do earlier, will definitely be completed now by her government.
Necessary steps will be taken by the government on health, education, special facilities for women and other important issues. It is important that we work by understanding the expectations and needs of the women of Delhi”.
Following her meeting with private school associations, Gupta emphasised the government’s commitment to bridging the gap between private and government schools. “Our vision is for schools to guide and support students while we work together to make Delhi’s education system the best in the country,” she said. The chief minister also met with trade organisations at the Delhi Secretariat to seek their inputs and announced plans to visit slum areas over the next three days to interact directly with women and youth. “The upcoming Delhi budget will be one that fulfils the hopes of the people,” she asserted, reaffirming her commitment to implementing the BJP’s election promises.
Gupta announced that over the next three days, she would visit the slum areas to interact with women and understand their concerns.
Additionally, she plans to engage with youth to know their perspectives. “The objective of this dialogue program is to improve the living standards of the citizens of Delhi, especially women, and to make the budget according to the needs of all those sections,” the Chief Minister remarked.
“The upcoming Delhi budget will be one that fulfils the hopes of the people,” she asserted, reiterating her commitment to implementing all promises made in the BJP’s election manifesto.
The chief minister further stated that there have been many issues which have been pending since the last government. She also said that they will take opinion of experts and law and ensure that animal rights are protected and also help the public.
“There have been many issues, including water, roads, and tree cutting, that have been pending since the last government. The areas that I visited today are facing water-related issues. There is a problem of stray dogs across the city. We will have to take the opinion of experts and the law on this. We have to work to ensure that animal rights are protected and also help the public,” said Gupta.
Earlier on Wednesday, AAP workers put up posters across Delhi with the message “only three more days,” seeking to build pressure on the BJP government over its “promise” to roll out `2,500 monthly financial assistance to women by March 8. March 8 is celebrated as International Women’s Day.
The AAP has been pressing the newly-formed BJP government to accelerate the implementation of its `2,500 monthly financial assistance scheme for women.
The party has repeatedly raised the issue in the Assembly, staged multiple protests, and even put up posters across Delhi with the message “only three more days”, highlighting the government’s promise to roll out the scheme by March 8, which coincides with International Women’s Day.