Former minister and the Congress` Lok Sabha candidate from Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh Kantilal Bhuria on Thursday courted controversy by claiming men with two wives stand to gain ₹ 2 lakh under his party`s Mahalaxmi scheme to give ₹ 1 lakh annually to poor women, reports PTI.
Lok Sabha is the lower house of India`s bicameral parliament.
The statement drew a sharp response from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which sought action from the Election Commission of India against Bhuria (73), a Union minister for tribal affairs in the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
"Our manifesto promises ₹ 1 lakh to every woman. It will be deposited in her bank account. (For) The person who has two wives, both of them will come under it," Bhuria said while addressing a poll rally in Sailana.
Speaking on the occasion, Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari said, "Bhuria ji has made a terrific announcement just now that a person with two wives will get double (of the ₹ 1 lakh financial aid)." As per the Congress` manifesto, under the Mahalaxmi scheme, women will get ₹ 8,500 per month till they move out of the below poverty line (BPL) segment.
Meanwhile, MP BJP spokesperson Narendra Saluja uploaded the clip of Bhuria`s statement on social media platform X and tagged the Election Commission seeking action.
In his address, Bhuria accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of disrespecting tribals and of keeping quiet when a tribal was urinated upon by a BJP leader in Sidhi.
Bhuria is pitted against Anita Chauhan, the wife of MP forest minister Nagar Singh Chauhan.
Lok Sabha polls will be held in Ratlam on May 13.
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