AAP's Arvind Kejriwal says 5.3 lakh total old-age pension beneficiaries in Delhi now

AAP nationalist convenor Arvind Kejriwal connected Monday announced that an further 80,000 radical successful Delhi are present eligible for old-age pensions, bringing the full fig of beneficiaries to 5.3 lakh.
However, hours aft the AAP announced the inclusion, the BJP countered it with a committedness of broad pension sum connected the request for each aged radical if voted to powerfulness successful the nationalist capital, wherever elections are owed aboriginal adjacent year. “When our authorities was formed successful 2015, 3.32 lakh elder citizens were receiving pensions. Over the past 9 years, we added 1.25 lakh beneficiaries. With 80,000 more, 5.3 lakh elder citizens present benefit,” Kejriwal said during a property conference.

The Delhi authorities besides launched a dedicated portal connected Sunday for aged citizens to use for pensions. According to Kejriwal, 10,000 applications person already been received.

Kejriwal highlighted that Delhi provides the highest pension rates successful the country, with Rs 2,000 for individuals aged 60–69 and Rs 2,500 for those aged 70 and above.

In a further boost to inclusivity, the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and number communities volition person an further Rs 500, helium added.

Accusing the BJP of halting pensions during his imprisonment, Kejriwal said, “It is simply a misdeed to halt pensions for aged people. After my release, we not lone restarted the pensions but besides added caller beneficiaries.” Responding to the accusations, the BJP successful a station connected X called the AAP's announcement a "political sham", claiming that it was made by Kejriwal alternatively of the due administrative authorities.

If the BJP comes to powerfulness successful Delhi adjacent year, 100 per cent of the aged colonisation volition person old-age pensions connected demand, the enactment said.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said, "Even aft this announcement, much than fractional of Delhi's 10 lakh aged residents stay uncovered. This is conscionable a driblet successful the ocean."

Kejriwal further criticised the BJP's assertion of “double-engine governments”, stating: “In Delhi, wherever we person a single-engine government, elder citizens person Rs 2,500. In the BJP-led states, the magnitude is hardly Rs 500–600. Why take a treble motor erstwhile a single-engine works better?”

Refuting the claim, the BJP said its authorities successful Haryana provides the highest old-age pension astatine Rs 2,750 per month.

Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj announced a caller Rs 5,000 monthly pension strategy for individuals with implicit 60 per cent disability, with applications opening soon.

Chief Minister Atishi besides praised Kejriwal's leadership, likening him to a modern-day 'Shravan Kumar' for facilitating pilgrimages for implicit 1 lakh elder citizens.

With the Delhi Assembly elections slated for February 2025, the AAP is vying for a 3rd consecutive word aft its sweeping triumph successful 2020 winning 62 seats retired of 70.

The BJP connected the different manus is aiming for a comeback successful Delhi aft 25 years wherever it has been retired of powerfulness since 1998.