BJP files writ petition against AAP

The Delhi BJP MPs have filed a writ petition in the High Court against the AAP government’s decision to not implement the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme in Delhi, state president Virendra Sachdeva said on Wednesday.

The party criticised the AAP government for failing to provide healthcare access to the elderly and underprivileged.

“Our commitment is to ensure medical treatment for the elderly and all underprivileged citizens,” Sachdeva stated. He expressed disappointment over the non-implementation of the scheme, attributing it to political motivations. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s concern about the lack of implementation in Delhi and Bengal highlights how Kejriwal is depriving citizens of free healthcare for political reasons,” he said.

The BJP leaders pointed to a concerning decline in healthcare facilities in Delhi, revealing that the number of hospitals has decreased from 94 in 2014 to 92, and maternity clinics from 265 to 124. BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj highlighted a recent case where a patient needed financial assistance for a hip replacement and faced challenges due to the inefficacy of the Delhi Arogya Scheme. “Patients are forced to run from pillar to post for help,” she said.

MP Harsh Malhotra emphasised the importance of Ayushman Bharat, which has over 50 crore registrations and 6 crore beneficiaries nationwide, lamenting that Kejriwal’s political rivalry with the BJP is harming Delhi’s residents.

Praveen Khandelwal pointed out that over 4,00,000 elderly residents in Chandni Chowk alone could benefit from the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, accusing Kejriwal of viewing every issue through a political lens instead of focusing on citizens’ needs.

Manoj Tiwari criticised Kejriwal for blocking essential healthcare services for the poor and elderly, despite the Prime Minister’s efforts to enhance access. “The country is now aware of how Delhi is being deprived. We have approached the court for justice, and we are confident we will succeed,” Tiwari said.