New Delhi: Congress Accuses Kejriwal of Health Scam Amid Election Buzz
The Congress Party has raised serious allegations against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal, claiming he is linked to a health scam totaling ₹382 crores. This statement comes as the Delhi Legislative Assembly elections approach, scheduled for February 5, with votes to be counted on February 8.
During a press conference, Congress leader Ajay Maken discussed these accusations, reminding the public that AAP was founded on the promise to combat corruption. "We are now in possession of 14 reports from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), all highlighting significant corruption issues tied to the Kejriwal administration," Maken stated.
He criticized Kejriwal for blaming the Lieutenant Governor for hindrances while he himself is not being transparent about the allegations against him. "Today, we ask Kejriwal to address these serious charges of corruption, specifically noting that one CAG report reveals a health scam involving ₹382 crores directly associated with him."
Maken further claimed that the CAG reports indicate that only three hospitals have been built in the past decade, all of which began construction during the Congress administration. He outlined excessive spending on these hospitals, with ₹314 crores over budget at Indira Gandhi Hospital, ₹41 crores overspent at Burari Hospital, and ₹26 crores more than the expected costs at Maulana Azad Dental Hospital.
"The CAG findings show that over ₹382.52 crores were unnecessarily spent on these three hospitals," he alleged, questioning why Kejriwal has not allowed the CAG’s findings to be discussed in the assembly.
As the election nears, a competitive three-way race is anticipated among AAP, BJP, and Congress. Once a powerful force in Delhi, Congress has struggled in recent years, failing to win any seats in the last two elections. In contrast, AAP had a remarkable victory in 2020, securing 62 out of the 70 available seats, while BJP claimed eight.
