'Those born with silver spoon in mouth won’t understand plight of the poor,' says Ajit Pawar

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The Maharashtra government is committed to the welfare of the poor but those born with a silver spoon in their mouth won’t understand the plight of the deprived section of society, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said on Thursday.

Addressing a rally here during his ‘Jan Sanman Yatra’, Pawar urged people not to fall prey to the opposition’s “fake campaigns”, highlighting government schemes for the youth, women, Warkaris (followers of Lord Vithoba) and others.

“We have deposited Rs 3,000 in the accounts of eligible women,” said the NCP chief, referring to the ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme, which provides monthly aid of Rs 1,500 to married, divorced, and destitute women in the 21-60 age group with annual income up to Rs 2.5 lakh.

The opposition calls the Ladki Bahin scheme an “election jumla” but it’s a fake campaign, he said, assuring that no one will take back the money from anyone.

“The opposition is trying to derail the schemes. Those born with a silver spoon in their mouth won’t understand the plight of the poor,” said Pawar.

While the government is giving three free cooking gas cylinders per year to 52 lakh families across the state, it is also bearing the education fees of girls and women in the state, he said.

Rejecting the claims that the schemes will throw the state’s finances into disarray, Pawar said Maharashtra’s revenue collection has been good. “The state needs Rs 75,000 crore for these schemes. We have the money so we are giving these schemes,” he said.

The schemes can run only if the Mahayuti coalition, comprising BJP, NCP and Ekanth Shinde-led Shiv Sena, is re-elected, he said.

“We have handled the treasury of the state government. We know where to cut expenses and where to spend. We have also spoken to Union Minister of Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan over sugarcane, onion, soybean, and milk," Pawar said.

The NCP chief also promised strict action in the collapse of the statue of Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot fort in Malvan tehsil of Sindhudurg district, which has triggered a political storm, with the opposition accusing the state government of corruption and insulting the Maratha warrior king.

“No matter what, wrong is wrong and cannot be forgiven. Stringent action will be taken in this case to set an example that such mistakes won’t be pardoned,” he added.