Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday requested everybody to leave behind politics and help the government set up Mohalla clinics in the national Capital. Kejriwal said that any help provided to set up these clinics would be an “act of virtue”.

“Poor people are treated at these Mohalla clinics. Any help towards setting up these clinics is an act of virtue,” he said. He was referring to the media reports about the Delhi government not being given land by the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) for expansion of the Mohalla clinics.

“Everybody should come forward for the cause, leaving behind party politics,” the Chief Minister wrote on Twitter.

At present, Delhi has nearly 158 operational Mohalla clinics. The government has set a target of setting up 1,000 more such clinics. The government, in its latest decision, has planned to construct these clinics at various Metro stations in Delhi.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s flagship project, Mohalla clinics, aims to provide affordable treatment to patients at their doorstep. Every doctor gets Rs 30 per patient per day in these clinics, which are operational from 9 am to 1 pm.

One of the most ambitious projects of the Delhi government, Mohalla clinics came under the scanner after the vigilance department ordered a probe in the functioning of these clinics. The complaint was forwarded by the Lieutenant Governor (L-G).

The construction of these clinics was put on hold, which led to major confrontation. For the first time in history, 40 AAP workers laid siege to the Raj Niwas, official residence of the L-G, for over nine hours, on the issue of pending files of Mohalla clinics. The L-G, then cleared the proposal, though with some ‘safeguards’.

Recently, the Delhi High Court had asked the AAP government to ensure that Mohalla clinics were not set up in schools as it would cause inconvenience to students and make educational institutes unsafe. The court also wanted the government to ensure that the clinics, in no way, rendered any place unsafe.