Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday took a strong stance against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi, stating that they are “busy selling liquor” instead of prioritising the health of the citizens in Delhi. Speaking at a press conference, Mandaviya emphasized the importance of the central government’s Ayushman Bharat and Ayushman Vaya Vandana schemes, stating that these programs should be fully utilized to benefit the people of Delhi.
“The Government of India has made repeated requests for the Delhi government to focus on the health of its citizens, but instead, they seem preoccupied with selling liquor,” Mandaviya said. “Schemes like Ayushman Bharat and Ayushman Vay Vandana are designed to help the people of Delhi, and it is essential that they be implemented effectively.”
Mandaviya’s comments followed a recent development where the Delhi High Court issued a notice to the Delhi government, questioning its failure to implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
In response, Delhi’s Chief Minister Atishi remarked on November 28 that the AAP government was ready to roll out the scheme, but there were significant differences between the benefits offered by Delhi’s public health system and those under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
“The Delhi government is committed to providing strong healthcare services. We are prepared to implement the core principles of Ayushman Bharat, but there are serious contradictions between what the Delhi government offers and the benefits under Ayushman Bharat,” she explained.
CM Atishi also pointed out that while healthcare in Delhi’s government hospitals is completely free, Ayushman Bharat imposes certain restrictions, such as excluding families who own assets like a refrigerator, a vehicle, or a concrete house. Additionally, the scheme caps financial assistance at Rs 5 lakh per family, and if two members fall ill at the same time, only one may receive support. “We don’t want to compromise on free healthcare for the people of Delhi,” she added, emphasizing that the health department is looking for ways to implement Ayushman Bharat without disadvantaging anyone.
Meanwhile, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj criticized the AAP for not implementing Ayushman Bharat, claiming that the party’s political interests were overshadowing the well-being of the people.
“I thank the judges of the Delhi High Court for stepping in when the AAP government seemed to be neglecting the interests of Delhi’s citizens,” Swaraj said. “The High Court’s action comes after all seven BJP MPs from Delhi filed a petition to ensure the implementation of Ayushman Bharat, the world’s largest health coverage program, offering up to Rs 5 lakh in coverage per family. But due to political motives, the AAP government is denying Delhiites the benefits of this crucial scheme.”
The Delhi High Court’s notice came after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by all seven BJP MPs from Delhi, seeking directions for the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) in the city.
With inputs from ANI.