Cong will end Bhamashah scheme if it comes to power: Raje

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje today alleged that the Congress will discontinue the Bhamashah scheme if it was voted to power in the upcoming assembly polls.

Speaking at a public meeting as part of her ongoing 'Gaurav Yatra' in Banswara district, Raje said the scheme was aimed at women empowerment but the Congress leaders in the state were against it.

She asked the people to not give mandate to the Congress, which has ruled the country for 50 years "on the basis of lies".

Under the Bhamashah scheme, bank accounts were opened in the names of women from BPL families and benefits were directly transferred to their accounts.

The scheme was initially conceptualised in 2007-08 during Raje's first tenure as CM and Rs 160 crore were transferred to 29 lakh women card holders.

But it could not reach them because the scheme was scrapped after Congress came to power after 2008 elections.

Addressing the tribal voters of the region, Raje highlighted that the Congress failed to do anything for them despite winning several state and general elections.

She informed that the state government will for the first time celebrate the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on August 9.

The Raje government has declared a holiday in the tribal area on the day.