Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is inaugurating the 51st Parliamentary Seminar organized by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Maharashtra chapter, at the Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday. | Photo credit: ANI
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday warned his MLA and others from the opposition for repeatedly mentioning the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme and raising “unrelated questions” during question hour in the Assembly.
Mr. Fadnavis was triggered when his former personal assistant and Ausa (Latur) BJP legislator, Abhimanyu Dattatray Pawar, said, “We call them Ladki Bahin, but their biggest pain is illegal liquor. We keep mentioning Ladki Bahin when sisters in rural areas raise their complaints about illegal liquor.”
In response, Mr. Fadnavis warned, “There is no need to mention Ladki Bahin in everything else you will have to sit at home. The program will continue and women will continue to get monthly installments. Don’t compare with other programs.”
Ladki Bahin was introduced in July 2024, ahead of the State Assembly elections, and was surrounded by controversies. Under this scheme, women between the ages of 21 and 65 with an income of less than ₹ 2.5 lakh are given a monthly installment of ₹ 1,500, which Mahayuti has promised to increase to ₹ 2,500 a month if in power.
Mr. Pawar reiterated that the same issue was raised in the previous meeting and that despite instructions to the Excise Department and the Food Department, “nothing substantial has been done”.
He demanded that under the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, 1949, the punishment for illegal and adulterated sale of liquor be increased to more than seven years and the fine from ₹50,000 to ₹5,000.
Women’s safety
Addressing the assembly, Congress MLA Jyoti Gaikwad asked if the government’s monthly assistance of ₹1,500 under the Ladki Bahin scheme was more important than women’s safety. “What will you do to improve the safety and security of women?” she asked.
To this, Mr. Fadnavis replied, “It is not necessary to associate Ladki Bahin with everything. Safety and security are important but you cannot compare them with the system. 2.5 crore women in the state have accepted the scheme, they will continue it and work on security issues.”
Published – 10 Dec 2025 01:22 IST
