Days after the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government announced free public transport for women in the national capital, former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced free public transport for women ‘for their own benefit’.
Speaking to news agency ANI, she said, “It would be good if they can do it. But it is being done for their own benefit, not anybody else’s. This should be seen politically.”
On Monday, Kejriwal announced free ride for women in Delhi Metro, DTC and cluster buses, in order to provide a safe travel experience to them. Kejriwal had said, “On all DTC buses, cluster buses and metro trains women will be allowed to travel free of cost so that they have safe travel experience and can access modes of transport which they were not able to, due to high prices.”
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The Delhi chief minister said that the proposal will be implemented within two to three months based on the feedback and suggestions from the public. Following the announcement, both the BJP and the Congress slammed the AAP’s proposal, saying it is a political gimmick and a publicity stunt.
AAP’s decision came close on the heels of the severe drubbing of the party in the Lok Sabha polls.