Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis speaks as he inaugurates the ’51st Parliamentary Workshop’ organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Maharashtra Branch, at 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 while raising “unrelated questions” during the Question Hour in the Assembly.
Mr. Fadnavis got 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 grievances related to illegal liquor.”
In response, Mr. Fadnavis warned, “No need to mention Ladki Bahin in everything, otherwise you will have to sit at home. The scheme will go on, and women will continue to receive a monthly instalment. Do not compare with other schemes.”
Ladki Bahin was introduced in July 2024, ahead of the State Assembly election, and has been surrounded by controversies. Under the scheme, women aged 21 to 65 with an income below ₹2.5 lakh receive a monthly instalment of ₹1,500, which Mahayuti promised to raise to ₹2,500 per month if voted to power.
Mr. Pawar reiterated that the same issue had been raised in the previous session and that, despite directions to the Excise and Food Departments, “nothing substantial has been done”.
He demanded that, under the Maharashtra Prohibition Act of 1949, the punishment for illegal and counterfeit liquor sales be increased to more than seven years, and the fine from ₹50,000 to ₹ 5 lakh.
Women safety
Addressing the Assembly, Congress MLA Jyoti Gaikwad asked whether the government’s ₹1,500 monthly aid under the Ladki Bahin scheme is 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 link Ladki Bahin with everything. Security and safety are important, but you cannot compare them with a scheme. The 2.5 crores women in the State have accepted the scheme, will continue it, and work on safety issues.”
Published – December 10, 2025 01:22 am IST
