MP govt to scrap doles to BJP workers

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP’s financial troubles are set to increase in Madhya Pradesh.

Lakhs of contributors to the BJP's fund will feel a resource crunch.

The Kamal Nath government is going to stop all the largesse doled out to BJP workers in the shape of various schemes by the previous dispensation.

State’s new Finance Minister Tarun Bhanot on Saturday said that he has asked his department officials to identify all such schemes which were started by the Shivraj Singh government to provide financial benefits to the BJP workers.

“Within a month all those schemes will be scrapped after review as they are causing unnecessary financial burden on the state exchequer”, he added.

Work has already begun in this direction with the new government having abolished the Deen Dayal Vananchal Yojana, which was launched by the previous government in 2016.

Former forest minister Gaurishankar Shejwar’s wife Dr Kiran Shejwar was made the head of the scheme.

The government has already made up its mind to strike down a pension scheme for Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) detainees arrested during the Emergency— between 1975 and 1977.

Besides, the government is soon going to dissolve Jan Abhiyan Parishad, the BJP-led apex body tasked with doling out grants worth hundreds of crores to NGOs owing allegiance to the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh.

The Parishad played a key role in mobilising workers for the BJP's campaign in the recent Assembly election through its NGO network.

The Congress lodged several complaints against the RSS network.

The pension scheme— Loknayak Jayaprakash Samman Nidhi— was introduced by in 2008 for the MISA detainees from the state.

About 4,000 people in the state were arrested during the Emergency according to a report. In case a MISA detainee dies, the spouse is entitled to take 50% of the honorarium amount.

As per the rule which was amended in 2016, those who had spent more than a month in jail will get Rs 25,000 a month. The state government has been spending Rs 70 to 75 crore each year on MISA detainees.

According to sources, the state government is planning to introduce a bill in this matter in the Winter Session of the Assembly which is going to begin from the first week of January 2019.

According to the state government data, more than 4,000 people have been benefiting from the pension scheme.

There are a plethora of schemes in at least a dozen departments through which BJP workers were involved and given financial aids.