Former Union Minister Smriti Irani declared that the NDA government in Bihar has liberated millions of women from helplessness and fear, transforming their lives through targeted welfare schemes. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, she highlighted how initiatives like Jan Dhan Yojana have empowered over 3 crore women with financial inclusion, while 1.16 crore households gained access to clean cooking fuel under Ujjwala Yojana. She also pointed to the success of sanitation drives ensuring toilets in every home.

Irani expressed deep anguish over the Rashtriya Janata Dal’s (RJD) attempt to derail these gains by urging the Election Commission to halt women-centric benefits. She accused the opposition of undermining progress, noting that direct transfers under schemes like Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana were being challenged despite benefiting women directly. “While NDA deposits money in women’s accounts, RJD wants it stopped,” she said.

The controversy stems from RJD MP Manoj Jha’s October 31 letter to the EC, alleging violations of the Model Code of Conduct through fund releases on October 17, 24, and 31. Irani framed this as political sabotage against women’s economic independence ahead of the Bihar assembly polls, scheduled for November 6 and 11, with counting on November 14.

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The NDA’s focus on women’s welfare, Irani argued, stands in stark contrast to past governance marked by insecurity and neglect. From banking access to fuel and sanitation, these programs have delivered dignity and safety, she insisted. The RJD’s move, she warned, risks reversing hard-won gains for Bihar’s women.

As Bihar heads to the polls, the clash over women’s schemes has emerged as a key election flashpoint. Irani positioned the NDA as the champion of women’s progress, urging voters to reject efforts to stall empowerment. The outcome, she implied, will determine whether Bihar’s women continue rising or are pulled back into the shadows.

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