Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday branded the Ayushman Bharat health scheme as the “biggest scam” in the country. This remark followed the Supreme Court’s decision to stay a Delhi High Court order that mandated the Delhi government to sign an agreement with the Centre to implement the scheme in the national capital.
Kejriwal’s Allegations
At a press conference, Kejriwal expressed satisfaction with the Supreme Court’s interim order, claiming it validated his criticism of the scheme. “Ayushman Bharat is the biggest scam in the country. Once the central government changes and inquiries are conducted, the magnitude of this scam will be exposed,” PTI quoted him as saying.
Supreme Court’s Interim Order
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices BR Gavai and Augustine George Masih, stayed the December 24 Delhi High Court directive, which asked the AAP government to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Union health ministry by January 5 to implement the PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM).
The bench issued notices to the Centre and other stakeholders, seeking responses to the Delhi government’s plea challenging the high court’s order.
Delhi Government’s Argument
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Delhi government, argued against being compelled to adopt the Centre’s health policy. “How can the high court force the Delhi government to sign an MoU on a policy matter?” Singhvi questioned, asserting that the decision should remain the prerogative of the state government.
The plea, filed by advocate Talha Abdul Rahman, opposed the mandatory implementation of PM-ABHIM in Delhi, highlighting concerns over federal policy interference.
High Court’s Position
The Delhi High Court had earlier emphasized the importance of implementing PM-ABHIM to ensure Delhi residents could benefit from the funds and facilities it offers. Noting that 33 states and union territories had already adopted the scheme, the court argued that Delhi’s non-implementation would be unjustified.
The Broader Debate
This development adds fuel to the ongoing debate between the AAP government and the Centre over health policies. While the Centre touts Ayushman Bharat as a transformative health initiative, Kejriwal and the AAP have frequently criticized it, alleging inefficiencies and corruption.
