Union Health Minister JP Nadda and newly appointed Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta jointly flagged off Ayushman Bharat registration vans from Vigyan Bhavan in the capital on Sunday, marking a fresh push for health coverage expansion under the Centre’s flagship scheme.
Addressing the event, Nadda criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for failing to utilize ₹1,700 crore allocated to Delhi under the Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission between 2021 and February 2025.
“We provided ₹1,700 crore, but not a single rupee was spent. That responsibility now rests with Rekha ji,” Nadda said, adding, “We were ready to quench Delhi’s thirst, but they kept the vessel upside down. Now that it’s upright, Ayushman Bharat can finally reach the people.”
The BJP president further accused AAP of denying healthcare access to the poor due to political ego, stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s offer to provide ₹5 lakh health coverage per family had been pending since September 2017.
Drawing a comparison between the Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and AAP’s Mohalla Clinics, Nadda remarked, “The wise are farsighted—they think of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, not short-term Mohalla Clinics.” He emphasized the scheme’s role in maternal and child health, highlighting India’s progress in reproductive and child healthcare.
The event comes weeks after 33 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs were inaugurated in Delhi on June 17 by Rekha Gupta and Ministers Parvesh Verma and Manjinder Singh Sirsa, showcasing upgraded infrastructure and medical services.
In another recent outreach, on May 18, Delhi Minister Ashish Sood distributed Ayushman Bharat cards to senior citizens aged 70 and above in Janakpuri, under the Pradhan Mantri Vay Vandana Yojana, further extending the scheme’s reach.
The rollout of registration vans aims to accelerate beneficiary enrollment and awareness about the health scheme across the capital.
