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New Delhi, India – A heated political debate has erupted in Delhi following the BJP-led administration’s decision to discontinue the “Farishtey” scheme in its recent budget. The initiative, launched by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in 2017, provided free emergency medical treatment for road accident victims, a move now heavily criticized by former Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj.
Bhardwaj, addressing a press conference on Sunday, condemned the decision, stating it was “unimaginable” that a government would scrap a program designed to save lives. He highlighted the scheme’s proven track record, noting that by 2021, it had reportedly saved nearly 10,000 lives by ensuring victims received prompt medical attention without financial constraints.
“How can any government, with a conscience, terminate a scheme that saves lives?” Bhardwaj questioned, emphasizing the potential repercussions of this decision. He recounted a tragic incident where a road accident victim was allegedly denied treatment at multiple hospitals and subsequently died, underscoring the critical role the Farishtey scheme played in bypassing such bureaucratic hurdles and ensuring immediate care.
The Farishtey scheme aimed to provide a safety net for road accident victims, eliminating the fear of financial burdens and ensuring hospitals provided necessary treatment without delay. The BJP’s decision to halt this initiative has drawn sharp criticism from the AAP, who argue that it will lead to unnecessary loss of life.
The BJP has not yet released a full statement explaining their reasoning for terminating the scheme.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information provided and reflects the claims made by Saurabh Bhardwaj and the AAP. The BJP’s perspective and reasoning for discontinuing the scheme may differ and have not been included due to lack of available information at the time of writing. Further developments and official statements from the BJP are awaited.
