Congress slams govt on free cylinder scheme, hospital EWS treatment

The Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Devender Yadav accused the BJP-led Delhi Government of indulging in “publicity politics”

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, Updated At : 08:55 AM Mar 04, 2026 IST

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The Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Devender Yadav accused the BJP-led Delhi Government of indulging in “publicity politics” over its announcement of free cooking gas cylinders on Holi and Diwali, alleging that several eligible families would be left out of the scheme.Yadav said the government had promised free cylinders to 15.50 lakh ration card holder families, while over 17 lakh families possessed ration cards in the Capital and many others were yet to be verified for new cards. He alleged that the scheme would benefit only those with valid ration cards and questioned why the government had not fulfilled its poll promise of providing subsidised LPG cylinders at Rs 500 to every household.Targeting Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, he claimed that large public funds were being spent on announcements at Talkatora Stadium, including the free cylinder scheme, the Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana and the proposed Pink Card facility for women. Yadav said the government should instead implement its promise of providing Rs 2,500 monthly honorarium to women, which he argued would offer sustained relief for household expenses.He also raised concerns over the eligibility criteria of Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana, stating that families with annual income above Rs 1.20 lakh would be excluded, even though the notified minimum wages for unskilled workers exceed that threshold annually.

Additionally, on healthcare, Yadav cited the Supreme Court’s contempt notices to 51 private hospitals in Delhi over alleged non-compliance with its 2018 order mandating free treatment for economically weaker section (EWS) patients. He alleged that successive AAP and BJP governments failed to ensure that hospitals allotted land at concessional rates provided 10 per cent In-Patient Department (IPD) beds and 25 percent OPD services free of cost to the EWS patients.

Congress slams govt on free cylinder scheme, hospital EWS treatment

The Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Devender Yadav accused the BJP-led Delhi Government of indulging in “publicity politics”

Tribune News Service

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