The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has sharply criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks about the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme. During a public address at AIIMS, Modi claimed that the governments of Delhi and West Bengal have not implemented the scheme due to “political interests.” He expressed disappointment over the lack of free healthcare for senior citizens in these states and apologized to elderly citizens, acknowledging their suffering caused by state decisions that hinder access to healthcare benefits.
In response, AAP’s Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj called the Ayushman Bharat scheme a “failed initiative.” He argued that its limited eligibility criteria prevent many people from benefiting. In contrast, he highlighted Delhi’s healthcare model, which offers free services regardless of an individual’s assets. Bhardwaj emphasized that the Delhi government provides comprehensive healthcare coverage without income or asset restrictions, questioning why the central government imposes a cap of ₹5 lakh when it already offers free treatment up to ₹50 lakh in Delhi.
