BJP moves Delhi HC against AAP for not implementing Ayushman Bharat scheme; Kejriwal claims scheme riddled with scams

Members of Parliament (MPs) of Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have filed a writ petition in the High Court against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's decision to not implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Delhi, BJP’s state president Virendra Sachdeva said on Oct 30.

Addressing a press conference, Sachdeva slammed the AAP government and its convener Arvind Kejriwal for depriving lakhs of eligible people in Delhi of the Centre's health insurance scheme.

“BJP will now fight a legal battle to ensure that the benefits of the scheme are available to the elderly and other eligible persons in Delhi,” Sachdeva said.

Sachdeva claimed that that it was announced earlier by then deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in the Delhi assembly that the the scheme will be implemented in the national capital. He slammed the AAP for going back on its promise.

Meanwhile responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's criticism on the non-implementation of the scheme in Delhi, Kejriwal on Oct 30 said the scheme, which is riddled with scams has no relevance and Delhi has a better healthcare scheme with no limit on treatment.

Addressing reporters in Delhi, Kejriwal cited the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report and said the Ayushman Bharat scheme is riddled with scams.

"This is not my opinion but this is what the CAG says. There are many scams in the scheme. Treatment under this scheme will only happen when the patient is hospitalized, but there are no conditions regarding hospitalization in Delhi," Kejriwal said.

He claimed he has not met a person who got treatment through the scheme.

“Under the Delhi government scheme, each person in the city receives free medical treatment as the government bears the entire cost whether it is a ₹ 5 pill or treatment worth ₹ 1 crore,” he added.

Kejriwal said that if medicines, tests, and treatment are all free in Delhi, then there is no need for the scheme in the capital. “Modi ji should study the Delhi scheme and implement it across the country for real benefit to the people," he added.

Pertinently, a slugfest ensued between the BJP and AAP after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Oct 29 criticized governments in Delhi and West Bengal for not implementing the scheme out of “political interests”.

Addressing a public gathering at New Delhi's All India Institute of Ayurveda, Modi while announcing the extension of the scheme to cover all senior citizens aged 70 years and above said, “I apologize to all the elderly aged above 70 years in Delhi and West Bengal. I know your pain, but due to the state government's decisions, I cannot help you.”

He added he was disappointed with the state of free healthcare for the elderly in Delhi and West Bengal and called it a missed opportunity to serve the senior citizens.

Meanwhile, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj in a statement on Oct 30 claimed that the Ayushman Bharat is a “failed” scheme. He said that poor patients from states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan where the scheme was implemented, visit Delhi hospitals for surgeries.

“The state government hospitals provide free treatment unlike the paid treatment provided in BJP-ruled states. Delhi government health schemes are far more effective than Ayushman Bharat scheme,” Bharadwaj added.