AAP free surgery scheme: Delhi leaders call it a diversion from corruption charges, question feasibility

New Delhi: Delhi BJP on Sunday called the Arvind Kejriwal government’s ‘free surgery scheme’ a “deception” to divert attention from corruption charges it is facing. [caption id=“attachment_3665673” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. PTI[/caption] Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari said the AAP government had announced to increase its health budget by 50 percent and to convert all its hospitals into super speciality ones, “but now it is admitting its failures by providing health services through private hospitals”. The AAP government on Sunday launched the ‘Free Surgery Scheme’ under which free treatment would be provided to patients at private hospitals if they do not get a date for surgery at government hospitals within one month. “Alternative health services announced by the Kejriwal government through big newspaper advertisements is just an attempt to divert the attention of the people from corruption charges against it,” Tiwari said. The scheme to provide health services through private hospitals will open a new avenue of “corruption”, he said and added that it was announced in haste without proper preparations. BJP MLA and leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupa claimed that the scheme is just like other “unfulfilled” schemes. “Private hospitals have commercial rates for surgical treatments and it is not feasible for any government to bear the cost. Kejriwal should tell how it will get the people treated at private hospitals,” Gupta said.