Delhi Chief Minister Atishi announced a firm stance on Wednesday against two senior government officers who issued public notices disassociating themselves from the registration process of two prominent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) welfare schemes—Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevani Yojana. The officers, a joint director from the Department of Women and Child Development and a special secretary from the Health and Family Welfare Department, allegedly labelled these schemes as “fraudulent” in public notices published in newspapers.

In a press conference held at the AAP headquarters, Atishi strongly condemned the actions of the officers, describing the notices as deliberate misinformation designed to tarnish the credibility of these initiatives. She attributed this to alleged political pressure from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming it was part of a broader conspiracy to undermine the AAP government’s welfare programs, which have garnered widespread public support.

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Atishi announced plans for strict administrative measures against the officers involved. She also stated that the AAP would pursue legal action, including an inquiry by the Delhi Police, to hold those responsible accountable for issuing what she termed as misleading and defamatory statements against the government’s schemes. The incident underscores the increasing politicisation of administrative decisions and raises questions about the impartiality of bureaucratic processes in implementing welfare policies.

AAP leaders reaffirmed the legitimacy of their flagship schemes, with Atishi presenting an official Cabinet notification approving the Rs 1,000 allowance for women under the Mahila Samman Yojana. Arvind Kejriwal accused the BJP of employing underhanded tactics to derail AAP's initiatives, including negative campaigning and leveraging government agencies to target senior leaders with false cases.

Despite these alleged disruptions, Kejriwal expressed confidence in AAP’s ability to connect with the people of Delhi through its policies and accomplishments, emphasising the party’s commitment to overcoming challenges and delivering on its promises.