Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) President and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has pledged that if his party secures a majority in the 2027 Assembly elections, poor women across the state will receive a monthly financial assistance of ₹3,000 under a proposed welfare scheme named ‘Stree Samman Samriddhi Yojana’.
Yadav made this announcement during a press conference in Lucknow on Sunday, where he was joined by senior party leaders, including Mainpuri MP Dimple Yadav. He emphasized that the scheme is aimed at empowering economically disadvantaged women, and that his party would also take concrete steps to increase women’s recruitment in the police force and strengthen support services like the 1090 Women Helpline.
Highlighting the party’s plans to enhance political representation of women, Yadav said, “In 2027, the Samajwadi Party will give more election tickets to women candidates to ensure their increased presence in the state assembly.”
Criticizing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Yadav accused the government of adopting SP’s pension scheme in other states to gain power, while ignoring the needs of women in Uttar Pradesh. “They copied our schemes elsewhere to win votes but abandoned them here, betraying the trust of women,” he said.
Referring to safety concerns, Yadav remarked that under his party's previous tenure, girls were given laptops to support their education. “Today, the BJP government is distributing outdated tablets. Law and order have deteriorated, and women and girls are no longer safe,” he said, expressing concern over the rising number of cases of rape and harassment in the state.
Yadav also leveled serious allegations against the state police, stating that it is being used as a political tool by the BJP. “Police are registering false cases against citizens and working to ensure BJP’s election victories. In such a situation, expecting improvement in law and order is unrealistic,” he asserted.
He further alleged that the Election Commission is functioning under political pressure. “The impartiality of the administration is being compromised, and police are being misused for election manipulation,” he said, citing the recent Kundarki bypoll where, according to him, plainclothes policemen were seen influencing voters.
On the international front, Akhilesh Yadav also responded to the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, particularly following the involvement of the United States. He urged the Indian government to act swiftly and ensure the safe return of Indian citizens stranded in the conflict zones. “India must make its position clear. True friendship is tested during difficult times,” he added.
Yadav concluded with a warning that the BJP has plans to take control of temple donations and accused the party of damaging heritage. “Under BJP rule, historic temples are being demolished, as seen in Varanasi. Now, similar actions are feared in Mathura. Unlike countries that preserve their cultural streets, our heritage is under threat,” he claimed.