"I Apologise To All Above 70": PM Slams Delhi, Bengal Over Ayushman Bharat

Targeting the Trinamool Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over not implementing the Ayushman Bharat scheme in West Bengal and Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the tendency to oppress ailing people for political interests is inhuman.

The Prime Minister launched the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) health insurance scheme for senior citizens. Under this scheme, people aged above 70 years will get a health cover up to Rs Rs 5 lakh annually. Those already covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme will get a top-up of Rs 5 lakh crore. The scheme aims to benefit about 6 crore senior citizens.

"There was a time when people's houses, lands, jewellery were sold for treatment. The soul of the poor trembled on hearing the cost of treatment for a serious disease. The helplessness of not being able to get treatment due to lack of money would shatter the poor. I could not see my poor brothers and sisters in this helplessness. That is why the 'Ayushman Bharat' scheme was born," the Prime Minister said, adding that around 4 crore people in the country benefited from the scheme.

"But I apologise to the elderly in Delhi and West Bengal for being unable to serve them. I would know that you are in trouble, but I won't be able to help you. Because the governments in Delhi and West Bengal are not joining this scheme," he said.

"The tendency to oppress the sick people of your state for political interests does not stand the test of humanity. I can serve the people of the country, but the walls of political interests are preventing me from serving the elderly people of Delhi, and West Bengal," the Prime Minister said.

Under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, the Centre and state governments shoulder the cost of premiums in a 60-40 ratio. Both Bengal and Delhi governments have health insurance schemes of their own, which they claim are better than the Centre's plan. 

The Prime Minister said the government has prepared five highlights of a national health policy. "First is preventive healthcare, second is timely intervention, third is affordable treatment and medicines, fourth is robust facilities and qualified doctors in small cities and the fifth is use of advanced technology. India now looks at healthcare with a holistic viewpoint," he said.

The Prime Minister launched a string of health projects worth Rs 12,850 crore.  

Responding to the PM's charge, AAP MP Sanjay Singh told the media, "If you have a fridge, you can't benefit from Ayushman Bharat. If you have a bike, you can't benefit. If you earn more than Rs 10,000 per month, you can't benefit from it. If this scheme is implemented in Delhi, no one will benefit from it."

The Trinamool Congress, too, stressed that its scheme is better in terms of coverage and convenience.