₹1 lakh to each woman, ₹2 lakh if you have two wives, says Congress leader

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Congress leader Kantilal Bhuria on Thursday, May 9, made a controversial statement while addressing an election rally. He said that each woman would receive ₹1 lakh under the party’s Mahalaxmi scheme, and men who have two wives will get ₹2 lakh.

Speaking at a rally in Sailana, Bhuria, who is contesting the Lok Sabha elections in Ratlam, said, “₹1 lakh will be credited in the account of every woman, and those who have two wives will get ₹2 lakhs.” The comment, which appeared to have been made in jest, had the audience chuckle.

#WATCH | While addressing a public rally, Congress candidate from Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam, Kantilal Bhuria says, "…After the Congress govt comes to power, what we have written in our constitution, Rs 1 lakh will be credited in the account of every woman, and those who have 2… pic.twitter.com/xzTSXoGzH2

— ANI (@ANI) May 10, 2024

The Congress manifesto promises a monthly aid of ₹8,500 for women under the Mahalaxmi scheme.

In his speech, Mr Bhuria also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not respecting tribals, adding that he failed to condemn the incident where a tribal person was urinated upon by a BJP leader in Sidhi.

The ruling BJP reacted strongly to his statements, calling for the Election Commission of India to take action against Bhuria. BJP spokesperson Narendra Saluja shared Kantilal Bhuria’s statement on X, formerly Twitter and criticised his remarks as “objectionable” against the “head of the country representing 140 crore people” and said it showed the “cheap thinking” of the Congress.

देश के 140 करोड़ लोगो का प्रतिनिधित्व करने वाले , देश के मुखिया के बारे में कितनी आपत्तिजनक टिप्पणी कांग्रेस के रतलाम के प्रत्याशी कांतिलाल भूरिया की…

ऐसी है कांग्रेस की घटिया सोच…

कभी रस , कभी चासनी , आज दो शादी , नंगा…?

यह इनकी शब्दावली है….

चुनाव आयोग @ECISVEEP… pic.twitter.com/FoxGhNwRz1

— Narendra Saluja ( मोदी का परिवार ) (@NarendraSaluja) May 9, 2024

BJP MP Maya Naroliya also criticised Bhuria’s comments, accusing Congress leaders of making statements that disrespect women. Naroliya warned that women voters would give a fitting response to the Congress in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Bhuria delivered his speech in the presence of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh and the party’s state unit chief Jitu Patwari. During the rally, Patwari supported Bhuria, saying it was a “terrific announcement.”

Bhuria won the Ratlam Lok Sabha seat in 2009 but lost to BJP’s Dilip Singh Bhuria in 2014. However, in 2015, the Congress leader won the by-polls necessitated by the death of Dilip Singh Bhuria.

In 2019, he lost the seat to BJP’s Guman Singh Damor. The Ratlam constituency will go to polls on May 13.  Bhuria is locking horns with BJP’s Anita Chauhan, the wife of Madhya Pradesh forest minister Nagar Singh Chauhan.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow