Delhi govt departments disown Arvind Kejriwal's major poll promises, AAP chief reacts

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal has announced Sanjeevani Yojana, a scheme which aims to provide free treatment to all Delhi residents aged 60 or more at private and government hospitals, in the run-up to the assembly elections in the union territory.

The Woman and Child Department has disowned the scheme, which promises to grant Rs. 2,100 per month to women of Delhi.

In a public notice issued on newspapers, the Health and Family Welfare Department stated, "If a person/entity calls you or visits you with the promise to provide benefit of free treatment under this supposed non-existent scheme or provide you some "Health/Sanjeevani Scheme Card in this regard, then you are hereby advised to: (1) not believe in any promise of free treatment under the supposed non-existent "Sanjeevani scheme" (2) not to provide any personal detail to anybody claiming to provide benefits under the scheme (3) not to affix your signature or thumbprint on any document unknowingly."

The Women and Child Department stated, As, if and when such a scheme is notified, the Department of Women and Child Development (WCD), GNCTD, will launch a digital portal for eligible individuals to submit their applications online as per the approved guidelines. The eligibility conditions and modalities will be clearly notified by the department as and when it happens.

"It is emphasized that since no such scheme exists, the question of physical forms / applications for the registration under this non-existent scheme does not arise," it said, adding that any individual collecting forms or information in the name of this scheme is "fraudulent and without any authority."

'BJP is rattled'

Slamming the move, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, a former Delhi chief minister, said, "We are asking for votes over work while they (BJP) are trying to win by allegations."

"The BJP is completely rattled," he added, addressing a presser.

Kejriwal also claimed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax (IT) have been directed by the BJP to raid several AAP leaders and also arrest Delhi chief minister Atishi by filing false cases.

"They are trying to arrest Atishi-ji by making a fake case," the AAP chief said.

'Do not fall prey to fake promises'

Lashing out at the AAP, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Bansuri Swaraj wrote on X, "The Women and Child Development Department has made it clear that the so-called 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana' does not exist.

"At the same time, the Health and Family Welfare Department also revealed the same truth about the 'Sanjeevani Yojana'. This is the height of selfish politics and lies of the AAP government and a shameful attempt to mislead the public and grab their personal information."

The MP from the New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency added, "My appeal to the people of Delhi is, do not fall prey to these fake promises and false slogans. Do not risk your future by handing over your personal information to any fraudulent political party. AAP's politics of deception will not work anymore."

BJP spokesperson Anil Kumar Gupta lashed out at the AAP to collect personal information of people as a ruling party.

"It's a digital fraud," Gupta said speaking during a debate on NDTV.