Final day of Delhi Assembly session marked by AAP, BJP sparring over CAG report

The Assembly session, the first since the BJP came to power in the Capital, has been marked by sloganeering, protests and 21 of AAP’s 22 MLAs being suspended for three days. Monday was the first time they returned to the House. Three AAP MLAs — Jarnail Singh, Kuldeep Kumar and Anil Jha — were later marshalled out for disrupting House proceedings, following which the rest walked out.

Speaking about the CAG report, CM Gupta said, “The issue is not whether the Budget given by the health department to the hospitals was used or not, the issue is not how many beds were needed and how many were available, the issue is not even that the people did not get the medicines that they should have got. The issue is that the AAP is responsible for the millions of people in Delhi who suffered while trying to get admission at these hospitals.”

Intensifying her attack, Gupta said Delhi’s hospitals and the health department are sick and need treatment first because of the previous AAP government.

“The doctors are helpless, the hospital is helpless. In the last 12 years, the AAP-da government only committed corruption in the name of health… The condition of mohalla clinics is such that from medicines to patients and doctors, everything was fake. The only correct thing was the payment,” the CM alleged.

“Crores was spent on mohalla clinics, but there is no accountability for those payments.”

The CM also pointed to the lack of manpower in hospitals, saying that 2,186 nursing positions, 234 medical officers’ posts, and 2,797 posts of para-medical staff remain unfilled. “These people (AAP) even committed corruption in procuring medical items — PPE kits, masks — which are gathering dust in the hospital storage and warehouses,” she alleged.

The CM continued her attack. “Ever since their (AAP’s) scams are coming out, these people have lost their senses; that is why they are coming up with different issues to divert attention from the CAG reports… We have only tabled two reports; 12 more are remaining… They walked out because they know they have to answer tough questions and they are scared to do it… they will be held accountable…”

Gupta also took a dig at Leader of Opposition Atishi and said, “(AAP chief Arvind) Kejriwal has hidden himself and trapped you here (Atishi). I am worried for you because if he can call Swati Maliwal to his house and misbehave with her, Atishi, you are not far away from that day when such an unfortunate incident can happen to you too. I am worried about you, you should take care.”

She was referring to Maliwal, AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP, allegedly being assaulted by Kejriwal’s personal secretary, Bibhav Kumar, at his official residence last year.

AAP hit back, questioning the BJP about when they will give Rs 2,500 to the women of Delhi. It also raised the matter of not allowing suspended AAP MLAs inside the premises.

“The Assembly rule book does not prohibit suspended members from entering Assembly premises, Gandhi statue area, or LoP’s office. There is no rule barring our entry into Assembly premises, nor has any official order been passed,” said Atishi.

Delhi AAP convenor and senior AAP MLA Gopal Rai said, “Just like in Parliament, the BJP now wants to run the Delhi Assembly through dictatorship instead of following the Constitution and rules.”

Responding to questions on the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana, Gupta said the “AAP left the Delhi government’s accounts empty… We will definitely fulfill our promise, but they don’t deserve to ask this question.”

The BJP government is likely to launch the scheme for women on International Women’s Day on March 8, sources had said.