Supriya Sule welcomes Ladki Bahin scheme, calls it 'election jumla'

The Maharashtra government's Ladki Bahin' scheme for women is good but its announcement and implementation just months ahead of the assembly elections is nothing but a jumla (gimmick), said NCP (SP) Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule on Thursday. Under the state government's Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana' announced last week in the budget, eligible women will be given Rs 1,500 per month. As the Maharashtra elections are hardly 2 to 3 months away, a shower of jumlas' was expected from the state government, the Baramati MP told reporters here. Maharashtra assembly polls are due in October. The scheme is good in the wake of growing unemployment and inflation. The state government tried to give support to women but the scheme has many conditions and riders, said Sule when asked about the scheme's implementation. She said though she welcomes the programme, its introduction before the state polls is nothing but an election jumla'. The senior NCP (SP) leader said elections are being