A political group, Jan Suraaj, has raised serious questions about the Bihar government’s recent direct cash distribution to women, suspecting it to be a politically driven tactic. Pavan Verma, a spokesperson, invoked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s past critiques of ‘revadi’ politics to question the timing and intent of the scheme, especially given its proximity to the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct. Verma emphasized Bihar’s challenging financial landscape, noting its public debt nearing Rs 4,06,000 crore and an interest burden of Rs 63 crore per day. He presented information indicating that a significant sum of Rs 14,000 crore was allegedly withdrawn from World Bank funds, earmarked for other projects, just before the election code was put in place. This amount was reportedly disbursed as Rs 10,000 to 1.25 crore women. Verma posed a critical question about the ethics of using funds in this manner for electoral advantage, hinting at potential post-election justifications. He suggested that this practice could extend to national politics, influencing elections in other states like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, and even in BJP-led states. Reflecting on his party’s journey, Verma acknowledged Jan Suraaj’s own strategic errors and perhaps an overly ambitious outlook for a new party, but maintained that their core message was well-received.
