Arvind Kejriwal: Centre is creating hurdles for us

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday fired a fresh salvo at the Centre and accused it of “creating hurdles unsparingly” before the Delhi government and asserted he stood as a “wall” between his ministers and the Modi dispensation. “The Centre has been unsparing in creating hurdles for us in carrying out our work. They have created so much trouble for us,” he alleged.

Mr Kejriwal asserted he stood as “wall” between Delhi government and the Centre. “I have not kept any portfolios with myself. I am standing like a wall between my ministers and the Central government. And I won’t let my ministers be troubled by the Centre. I’ll take care of it all by myself,” he said. The AAP-led Delhi dispensation and the Centre have engaged in bitter political battles in the past over several issues including control over administration and the city police.

“I feel sad...And, if the Centre had shown positive attitude and supported us, we (Delhi government) would have done ten times more work than what we have done so far. So, I hope the Centre will open their eyes now and see the reality,” he said.

Mr Kejriwal will on Monday also address government doctors via video-conference where he will talk about the AAP dispensation’s recent decision to waive user charges at its hospitals from February 1.

“Tomorrow at 3 PM, I will address all government doctors and talk to them about implementing the new scheme for our hospitals, so as to also inform them about this new policy...”

“It is also important to tell them that the government has changed, the system has changed,” he said.

The decision to waive the user charges was announced by Mr Kejriwal at the opening of the second phase of the project from Mangolpuri to MadhubanChowk on January 17.

As per the policy, patients at city government hospitals would not have to pay for medicines and diagnostic tests available there.

“I can tell you from own family experiences that many a time doctors at our own hospitals do not know that certain facilities are available there. So, this meeting will also serve the purpose of informing all our doctors about our new policy,” Mr Kejriwal said.

“People who will avail services at our hospitals can get medicines, and diagnostic tests like X-ray examinations, etc, done for free from February 1 ,” he said.