Never a dull moment in Indian politics till Aam Aadmi Party is around. Enthused by their victory in Bawana bypolls in Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal today decided to take on Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal. 45 AAP MLAs camped at LG’s office on Wednesday demanding the LG clears the mohalla clinic files immediately.
https://twitter.com/LambaAlka/status/902829318052618241
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal then got into action and pleaded how LG should not let Delhi people ‘suffer’ by ‘politicising’ the mohalla clinic issue.
https://twitter.com/ArvindKejriwal/status/902835358911447041
https://twitter.com/ArvindKejriwal/status/902835558514286592
https://twitter.com/ArvindKejriwal/status/902835595591860226
Aam Aadmi Party Twitter warriors did not lose a chance to pounce on the opportunity and pleaded that mohalla clinics are essential to avoid a Gorakhpur-like tragedy.
https://twitter.com/ashu3page/status/902872723407249409
Some more emotional tweets were thrown in.
https://twitter.com/msisodia/status/902852684104908800
And then, things escalated quickly when all 45 MLAs wrote a letter saying they’ll camp there in LG’s office till he passes the files for mohalla clinic.
https://twitter.com/Saurabh_MLAgk/status/902882403189788672
Let us take a step back and try and understand the situation.
Satyendar Jain, against whom CBI has filed an FIR with regards to the money laundering case against him, is the health minister of AAP. It is under him the mohalla clinics come. Earlier today, it was reported that Enforcement Directorate may file a fresh money laundering case against him.
In February this year, the LG had given a nod to 300 mohalla clinics. Interestingly, in the same month, mohalla clinics came under scanner for alleged irregularities in running them. There are also reports where allegations were made about false entries of patients treated by the doctors to ensure good income. There are allegations of corruption and overcharging by these mohalla clinics from the government.
Let us not also forget that Delhi health minister Jain’s daughter, who is an architect by qualification, was made an “advisor” in mohalla clinics, which she quit after eyebrows were raised on the appointment.
Things get interesting here.
On 29th August, Health Minister Satyendar Jain received letter from the Special Secretary (Vigilance) raising questions about the mohalla clinic. However, instead of providing facts to refute the allegations, Jain decided to ‘assure’ that not a single ‘wrongdoing’ will be tolerated.
All 45 MLAs camping at LG’s office for the mohalla clinic, which is Jain’s department, days after CBI files an FIR against him in the money laundering case, raises more than a few eyebrows.