AAP, BJP clash over mohalla clinics issue

New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) on Thursday clashed over the issue of delay in setting up more mohalla clinics, a pet project of Arvind Kejriwal Government, with the ruling party accusing the BJP of creating hurdles in the project's implementation.

When Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain told the House that the file on mohalla clinics was yet to be cleared by the lieutenant-governor’s office, it led to heated arguments between the AAP and BJP MLAs. AAP legislators Rajesh Gupta and Ritu Raj sought to know why the L-G’s nod was required “for everything”, including setting up mohalla clinics.

BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa alleged that the project could take off owing to AAP government’s “failure”. Under the project, the AAP government wanted to open 1,000 mohalla clincs across the city. Out of these, around 120 such health facilities have come up so far. Mohalla clinics was a flagship project of the AAP government which aimed at providing free primary healthcare to city residents.

Replying to a question during Question Hour, Jain said officials did not allow more such clinics to come up as the Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has not given his approval. “The government has prepared four Cabinet notes about mohalla clinics. Recently, the LG had given his nod to it, but there is confusion among the officials on whether the L-G  has approved all clinics or only some facilities,” the health minister told the House.

Mr Jain alleged that hurdles were being created in setting up mohalla clinics and a solution to this would be found soon. During heated arguments between the AAP and the opposition, an agitated Jain asked BJP MLAs why they don’t they approach the LG if they were so concerned about the people of Delhi and requested him seek the LG’s nod to mohalla clinics.