Delhi BJP chief writes to L-G; asks for files to be seized

In a fresh attack, sacked Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Minister Kapil Mishra on Saturday accused Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Health Minister Satyendar Jain of misappropriating health funds. Mr. Mishra also claimed that three health scams, including one involving ₹300 crore in relation to procurement of medicines, had taken place in the AAP government.

The Kejriwal government, he claimed, improperly procured medicines, overpaid for ambulances, and violated rules in transfers and appointments.

Reacting to these charges, Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari has written to Lieutenant- Governor Anil Baijal, urging him to get files and paper work related to the alleged scams seized.

‘Medicines wasted’

According to Mr. Mishra, Mr. Jain did not allow hospitals to buy medicines and handed over the task to a central procurement authority. “The government bought medicines worth crores six months in advance, even when hospitals said they didn’t need them. Three godowns were built to store these medicines, which went waste,” said Mr. Mishra.

He also raised doubts over the purchase of 100 ambulances for ₹23 lakh each. They were supposed to be fireproof, said Mr. Mishra, but four of them caught fire within the first few days of running.

Mr. Tiwari, meanwhile, said in his letter to the L-G that the allegations of financial irregularities had prompted Mr. Kejriwal to undertake inspection at hospitals.

“A few days ago, we have heard Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia issuing warnings to Delhi Jal Board and PWD officials of strict action in case of water logging. Reports coming from all areas of Delhi indicate that people are not aware of de-silting work being done. Whenever Delhi gets even a little rainfall traffic gets disturbed due to water logging all around the city,” Mr. Tiwari wrote.

Mr. Sisodia’s statement, the BJP chief claimed, clearly indicated that the government was “well aware of lapses in the de-silting work, and in view of possible public protest is trying to shift responsibility on the officials.”