GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 30th Oct. In an escalating dispute over health policies in Delhi, Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena on Wednesday criticized Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for not implementing the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme in the capital. Saxena’s remarks followed a petition filed by Delhi BJP MPs in the High Court demanding the scheme’s adoption.
The LG accused Kejriwal of blocking Ayushman Bharat due to concerns it might undermine the Delhi government’s healthcare model. Saxena claimed that Kejriwal opposed Ayushman Bharat in 2018 to prioritize his administration’s “Aam Aadmi Health Insurance Scheme” label, stating Kejriwal’s resistance left vulnerable Delhi residents without key health benefits.
This confrontation comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi also criticized the AAP-led Delhi government for disregarding Ayushman Bharat for “political reasons.” Responding to Modi’s comments, Kejriwal defended Delhi’s health services, arguing that Ayushman Bharat’s limitations make it unnecessary in Delhi, where free treatment is already available. Kejriwal labeled Ayushman Bharat a “scam” and recommended it be replaced nationwide with Delhi’s model, which he claims offers unrestricted free care without conditions.
At a press conference, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva highlighted that the AAP had previously promised Ayushman Bharat’s rollout in Delhi, only to withdraw the commitment later. The BJP has now resorted to legal action to extend the scheme’s reach to Delhi’s eligible residents, Sachdeva added.
Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, meanwhile, critiqued Ayushman Bharat, calling it restrictive and inferior to Delhi’s model, which serves all citizens regardless of economic status. AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar echoed this sentiment, alleging that many hospitals in Ayushman Bharat’s network do not actively participate, suggesting the scheme’s inefficacy in BJP-led states.
With the issue now in court, the debate over Delhi’s healthcare direction is likely to intensify, placing the AAP’s healthcare model under greater public scrutiny.
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