New Delhi, November 28 (IANS): The Delhi High Court on Thursday agreed to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in the national capital.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Manmohan issued notice on the PIL filed by the 7 Delhi BJP MLAs and sought answers from the city government and its health department on the issue.

The BJP MPs in their PIL sought implementation of AB-PMJAY in the National Capital Territory, which provides health cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per annum for all beneficiaries. The petition filed by Harsh Malhotra, BJP MP from East Delhi, and six other legislators said that as of October, 33 states and Union Territories had implemented the health insurance scheme launched in 2019 named Ayushman Bharat.

“However, the NCT of Delhi remains the only Union Territory where this necessary, noble and beneficial healthcare program has not been implemented, uniquely depriving the underprivileged covered beneficiaries of essential health coverage” , he adds.

The petition further states that any clash of political ideologies must take a back seat when it comes in the way of the essential well-being of the people of Delhi and that political leaders and policymakers must collaborate and put aside ideological differences to serve the common good, particularly in matters that directly affect the health, safety and quality of life of the people they represent.

“When political conflicts overshadow public needs, they undermine the very essence of democracy and governance, which must work in the best interest of citizens,” the PIL said.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for December 11, 2024.

Speaking to IANS, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj slammed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for hampering the implementation of Ayushman Bharat program in the national capital, adding that the AAP dispensation has intentionally blocked Ayushman Bharat due to political interests and motivations and was deliberately depriving the city residents of the healthcare system.

“The Ayushman Bharat programme, launched under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims at the welfare of the people. However, the Delhi government refuses to implement it, demonstrating a lack of interest in the health of the people,” she declared.

Swaraj further claimed that Arvind Kejriwal’s opposition to Ayushman Bharat was politically motivated. “Kejriwal believes in the politics of hatred and that is why he did not approve this project. Although the Center is offering Rs 47 crore per year to support Delhi, the AAP government is rejecting it,” she added.