New Delhi: The political battle over the Ayushman healthcare scheme has intensified in Delhi, with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal countering Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the allegations that the Delhi government is hindering the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme.
Kejriwal challenged Modi’s claim that the Delhi government has not implemented Ayushman Bharat due to “political interests.” He has asserted that Delhi’s own robust healthcare system, which provides free medical services up to Rs 10 lakh, makes Ayushman Bharat redundant.
“Everything is free for patients in Delhi. Whether you need a five-rupee Crocin tablet or a procedure costing one crore, it’s all provided at no cost. We don’t impose any limit of five lakhs. When everything from medicine to doctor appointments is free, what purpose does the Ayushman Scheme serve in Delhi?” Kejriwal asked in a press conference urging PM Modi to learn from Delhi’s model and implement it nationwide for the benefit of all citizens.
This public sparring comes after Modi criticised the Delhi and West Bengal governments for not implementing the Ayushman Bharat scheme, accusing them of prioritising “political interests” over the welfare of senior citizens.
“It is not right to speak wrongly on the issue of people’s health. It is not right to do politics on this,” Kejriwal wrote on X (formerly Twitter), adding, “PM Modi should study the Delhi model of healthcare and replace his government’s Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme with it across the country for real benefit to the people.”
Meanwhile, in a separate development, the AAP-led Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) announced a Diwali bonus fund and salary for its employees, a historic move that Kejriwal called a testament to the party’s commitment to supporting MCD workers.
