Delhi High Court Responds to BJP MPs' Request for Ayushman Bharat Implementation
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New Delhi, Nov 28 (NationPress) On Thursday, the Delhi High Court agreed to review a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that calls for the execution of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) within the capital. A bench led by Chief Justice Manmohan issued a notice regarding the PIL submitted by all seven BJP MPs from Delhi and requested responses from the city’s government and health department.
The BJP lawmakers, in their PIL, requested the enforcement of AB-PMJAY in the National Capital Territory, which offers health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per annum for each beneficiary. The petition, initiated by Harsh Malhotra, a BJP MP from East Delhi, along with six other representatives, noted that as of October, 33 states and union territories have successfully implemented the health insurance scheme launched in 2019.
“Nonetheless, the NCT of Delhi stands out as the only Union Territory where this vital, noble, and beneficial health care initiative has not been established, consequently denying the underprivileged beneficiaries essential health coverage,” it stated.
The petition further asserted that political differences should not impede the welfare of Delhi’s residents, urging political leaders and policymakers to unite and overlook ideological disputes to prioritize the greater good, especially in issues that directly influence the health, safety, and quality of life of the populace.
“When political discord overshadows public needs, it undermines the core of democracy and governance, which is to act in the best interests of citizens,” the PIL declared.
The subsequent hearing for this case is scheduled for December 11, 2024.
In a statement to IANS, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for hindering the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the capital, claiming that the AAP administration has deliberately obstructed the initiative due to political reasons and is keeping the city’s residents from accessing the health program.
"The Ayushman Bharat scheme, introduced under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is intended for the welfare of the public. Yet, the Delhi government is resisting its implementation, indicating a lack of concern for public health," she remarked.
Swaraj further alleged that Arvind Kejriwal’s opposition to Ayushman Bharat is politically motivated. “Kejriwal engages in the politics of animosity, which is why he has not endorsed the scheme. Despite the Centre's offer of Rs 47 crore annually to assist Delhi, the AAP government has declined it,” she concluded.
