(With Inputs By Mahida Khan)
The controversy over Delhi’s Mohalla Clinics has escalated, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) trading sharp barbs. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva attacked former health minister Satyendar Jain over alleged irregularities highlighted in the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, while AAP leaders slammed the BJP government’s pan to shut down 250 Mohalla Clinics.
The controversy deepened after Delhi Health Minister Dr Pankaj Singh announced that around 250 rented Mohalla Clinics would be shut down soon. The AAP accused the BJP of systematically dismantling public welfare schemes launched by the previous Arvind Kejriwal government.
AAP leaders cited Kejriwal’s pre-election warning that a BJP government would shut down free services like Mohalla Clinics, free electricity, water, and bus travel for women. Former chief minister Atishi remarked, “Modi ji had assured that nothing would be discontinued, but today, Kejriwal’s warning has proven true. The BJP is closing Mohalla Clinics, and this is just the beginning. Soon, free electricity, free water, and free bus travel for women will also be scrapped.”
Satyendar Jain strongly condemned the move, stating, “Mohalla Clinics were opened to serve Delhi’s people. Each clinic provides free treatment, medicines, and 365 diagnostic tests—some of which even big hospitals do not offer.” He argued that the clinics were designed to ensure people could access healthcare within their neighbourhoods without travelling far.
Jain said the AAP government had established 550 Mohalla Clinics, and shutting down 250 of them would be a “huge injustice to the people of Delhi.” He urged the BJP to expand the network instead of dismantling it. “If the AAP government built 550 clinics, why isn’t the BJP announcing plans to build 1,000? Instead, they are shutting them down,” he said.
He also defended the use of rented properties, stating, “Government offices also operate from rented spaces. The idea was to have clinics within localities, easily accessible by foot. If land was available, we would have used it. The previous governments also rented spaces for healthcare facilities.”
Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh Calls Mohalla Clinics ‘Fraud’
Meanwhile, Health Minister Pankaj Singh defended the decision, calling the Mohalla Clinic model a “fraud” and alleging that many of them exist only on paper. He claimed that the previous government had been paying ₹20,000-₹25,000 in rent per month for each clinic, in addition to providing free electricity. “We have sought a report from the health department. Delhi has enough space for primary health centres. Those that exist only on paper will be shut down,” he said.
He also confirmed that a review of contracts would determine when these clinics would be closed.
Delhi BJP Chief Virendra Sachdeva’s ‘Memory Loss’ Jibe At AAP’s Satyendar Jain
Addressing the media, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva questioned Satyendar Jain’s tenure, saying, “It is good to see that the former health minister, who once claimed to have lost his memory, has now returned to defend Mohalla Clinics.”
He further accused Jain of attempting to cover up the “biggest scam” of his tenure, alleging that government land was overlooked in favour of renting private properties for setting up Mohalla Clinics. “This is a failed attempt to defend his government’s scam. We hope that just as Jain’s memory has returned for this defence, it will also return for confessing to the financial scams under investigation by the CBI and ED,” Sachdeva added.
Sachdeva claimed corruption occurred at every level, from renting spaces for clinics to medical tests conducted. He alleged that before the AAP government, Delhi had nearly 400 government dispensaries, most of which were shut down in favour of Mohalla Clinics, leading to massive corruption. “Properties owned by AAP ministers, MLAs, and supporters were leased at exorbitant rates, resulting in kickbacks,” he claimed.
The BJP leader also posed direct questions to Jain: “Why were existing government dispensaries ignored when opening Mohalla Clinics? Were the rents paid above market rates, and is Jain willing to face an investigation? Did the CAG report not highlight irregularities in check-ups and payments?”
