Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a controversial statement said that people from outside come to Delhi for ‘free treatment’ but Delhi has ‘its own capacity’. “How can Delhi serve people of entire country?” he said while addressing a gathering in national capital on Sunday.

#WATCH Delhi CM: One person from Bihar buys a ticket to Delhi for Rs 500, returns after availing free treatment worth Rs 5 lakhs. While it makes us happy as they are people of our own country, but Delhi has its own capacity. How can Delhi serve people of entire country? (29.09) pic.twitter.com/qW1hvryPnK — ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2019

Speaking on long queues about purchasing medicines prescribed by doctors, Kejriwal says the reason is a lot of people are coming from outside of Delhi for treatment. “We carried out survey. About 80% patients in Delhi hospitals are outsiders. There are enough hospitals in Delhi which can cater to residents of Delhi. A Delhi resident can get treatment within 30 minutes of entering a hospital. But the queues are because of people living outside of Delhi who come here for treatment. A person from Bihar can take a ticket for Rs 500 and come to Delhi and get free treatment worth Rs 5 lakh and go back. We are happy because they are our country people only and they should get treatment. But Delhi has its own capacity. How can Delhi give treatment to patients of entire country? The situation in the rest of the country should improve,” he said.

Arvind Kejriwal’s controversial statement on ‘outsiders’ comes days after he had tried to indulge in fearmongering by trying to spread misinformation about implementation of NRC and deliberately confusing domicile with citizenship. He had said that if NRC is implemented in Delhi, BJP leader Manoj Tiwari would be the first one to leave Delhi. Delhi BJP leader Manoj Tiwari had said recently that the situation in Delhi is worsening due to the presence of illegal immigrants who pose a threat to the safety of people in Delhi. Tiwari assured that the BJP government will implement the NRC in Delhi as well just like they have done it in Assam. The NRC is strictly to identify the illegal immigrants living in the country and is not aimed at Indians living in states different from their birthplaces.

Delhi goes to state assembly elections early next year.