CM says previous AAP govt. could not manage COVID-19
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday heaped praises on the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for extending support to Delhi during the COVID-19 pandemic. She criticised the former Aam Aadmi Party government, alleging it had failed in managing the COVID-19 period and assured that the BJP government will not repeat the 'mistakes done by AAP government in the past'.
Her comments came amid the re-emergence of COVID-19 cases in the country. COVID-19 cases in Delhi have been dropped by 37, bringing down the total active caseload to 691.
'The condition in which the people of Delhi spent their 11 years was quite distressing. During the COVID-19 period, the then Delhi government issued death certificates to only 97 people, whereas everyone saw the reality of overflowing crematoriums. Regrettably, those deaths were not even recorded,' said Ms. Gupta during a press conference, adding that the Centre extended a 'helping hand' during those dark days.
Ms. Gupta said that the Centre provided free ration to nearly 80 lakh people at that time when the then Delhi government was 'hiding behind the closed doors'.
Meanwhile, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, who was also present at the press conference, took on the Arvind Kejriwal government. He stated that it was the Centre that took care of Delhi when the previous AAP government left Delhi helpless during the COVID-19 period.
Pointing out the development in the healthcare infrastructure in the Capital, the CM said, 'Today, AIIMS alone conducts around five lakh outpatient department (OPD) visits annually linked to Delhi, which reduces the burden on hospitals here. Corruption in the health sector was rampant during the previous government, which has now been stopped. 1,500 nurses have been permanently appointed to fill the infrastructural gaps caused by staff shortages.'
CM Gupta said that the government had begun a rollout of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, enabling Delhiites to benefit from a slew of Central government's welfare programmes.
She said that her administration has initiated work on 1,100 new Arogya Kendras (health centres), with 34 centres nearing completion. Their inauguration is scheduled for June 14.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
29 minutes ago
- Indian Express
CM Majhi's ‘PR blitz' vs Naveen Patnaik's offensive — gloves off in BJP, BJD battle
With the Mohan Charan Majhi-led BJP government in Odisha marking its first anniversary on Thursday, the battle of narratives between the BJP and the principal Opposition BJD has intensified. While the BJP is going all out to showcase its 'achievements' during its first year at the helm, the BJD has mounted an offensive to highlight the Majhi government's 'failures'. On Tuesday, BJD president and ex-chief minister Naveen Patnaik launched a 'Janajagarana Abhiyan' (peoples' awakening campaign) as part of which the regional party plans to reach out to the people across the state to 'expose' the 'failures' of the BJP government. He also took a swipe at the BJP's publicity blitz. After ruling Odisha for five consecutive terms since 2000, the Patnaik-led BJD was trounced by the BJP in the Assembly polls last June. Patnaik has now marked one year as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly. On Tuesday, CM Majhi also addressed a press conference, asserting that his government has been 'successful in fulfilling a majority of the promises it made to the people'. He also announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Odisha on June 20 to mark the government's one-year celebrations – his sixth visit over the last one year. According to BJP sources, Modi, during the visit, will unveil the party's vision document proposing to make Odisha a prosperous state by 2036 — when the state will commemorate its centenary year. In his speech Tuesday, Patnaik took on the BJP, saying: 'It's been a year since the BJP has formed its government in Odisha. They refer to the government as 'lokonka sarkar' (peoples' government). But where are the people? Development doesn't come from long speeches and glossy advertisements'. He also raised three issues – the BJP government's decision to bring the curtains down on his regime's Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), the 'weakening' of the Mission Shakti initiative scheme meant for rural women, and the agrarian policy – to target the BJP, claiming that these measures went against the interests of the people. On the BSKY, Patnaik claimed that despite the BJP's implementation of the Centre's Ayushman Bharat Yojana, his own government's scheme was 'more beneficial'. The Majhi government replaced the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) with the Gopabandhu Jana Arogya Yojana, even as Odisha joined the Ayushman Bharat Yojana in January this year. The Ayushman Bharat scheme is now being implemented along with the Gopabandhu Jana Arogya Yojana in the state. 'Over 90 per cent of people were covered under BSKY. Though the Ayushman Bharat scheme has been started here, people face difficulties getting treatment. People can't get treatment without money,' Patnaik said. He also accused the current dispensation of 'weakening' Mission Shakti initiative. A flagship scheme launched in 2001 by the then Patnaik government, the scheme was launched as an integrated programme for women empowerment and was meant, among other things, to help promote socio-economic activities among them. This scheme was once believed to have given the BJD a political advantage, raking in one of its largest voter base – women. However, the tables turned in the 2024 elections, when the BJP's promise of the Subhadra direct cash transfer scheme for women was believed to have dented this key base of the BJD. The Subhadra scheme was launched on September 17 last year, with the BJD calling it an attempt to 'weaken' the Mission Shakti initiative. Patnaik also accused the Majhi government of 'obstructing women's empowerment'. 'The rural women who used to travel to Dubai and Singapore are disheartened now. This is the biggest achievement of the BJP government…the women of Odisha will not forgive this,' he said. Speaking about the agrarian problems in Odisha, the BJD chief also underlined the difficulties faced by farmers at the mandis, saying that they were now 'at the mercy of the middlemen and millers'. Senior BJD leader Sarada Prasanna Jena alleged that the BJP government has failed on all fronts and that the BJD has planned to 'expose its lies'. As part of its campaign, the BJD has announced that it would hold two rallies at Jajpur on June 13 over women issues and at Puri on June 18 over issues concerning youth and students. 'The promises made to the people have turned into betrayal. They (government) have been using falsehood to mislead people. The government has been making tall claims, but the reality is starkly different. Despite a double-engine government, Odisha is being neglected in every sector. We will expose their lies,' Jena told reporters.
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Muhammad Yunus's behaviour not proper': BJP slams Bangladesh over attack on Tagore's ancestral home; seeks action
NEW DELHI: slammed Bangladesh's interim government led by Muhammad Yunus for not taking action against protesters who vandalised Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral house and claimed that the "pre-planned" attack was carried out by Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While addressing a presser on Thursday, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra urged the whole world to condemn the attack on Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral house. The mob attacked Tuesday on Rabindra Kachharibari in Sirajganj's Shahjadpur upazila following a dispute between staff and a local visitor regarding motorcycle parking, according to Daily star. In the presser, Patra said, "Today's topic is about Bangladesh. We are not intruding on any international domain. But this is the topic of Rabindranath Tagore, so the BJP takes it very seriously and sensitively. On Tuesday, Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral house, located in Bangladesh, was attacked and damaged..." "His Kacharibari, built by his grandfather, has been attacked. We are getting to know that the people of Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam carried out this attack. It is also coming to light that this was a pre-planned attack," he added. He also said that the BJP is making a global call that all countries that value morality, creativity, culture, should come together to condemn what has happened in Bangladesh. "The behaviour of the Bangladesh interim government of Muhammad Yunus is not proper. No action has been taken yet. They could not protect such a significant international monument. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A deplorable message goes out to the world. BJP condemns this behaviour of the interim government," the BJP spokesperson said. Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral house attacked in Bangladesh A mob attacked the Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral house following a dispute between staff and a local visitor regarding motorcycle parking on Sunday, according to police and local sources. Around 11:30am, Tiuesday, the assailants, primarily young individuals, forced their way through the entrance and damaged the auditorium, doors, and windows, according to Habibur Rahman, the Kachharibari's custodian. The memorial museum dedicated to the Nobel laureate, housed within the mansion, remained intact. "Visitors present at the site were frightened by the unexpected attack. We sought shelter and contacted police immediately," Habibur stated. "Staff members attempted to prevent the attackers from reaching the museum. Police arrived promptly and intervened. Five to six individuals, including staff, sustained injuries during the incident," he added. Shahjadpur Police Station's officer-in-charge, Aslam Ali, confirmed the attack resulted from a Sunday dispute over motorcycle parking outside the Kachharibari. He reported no significant damage and confirmed police deployment at the site. Following the incident, the museum ceased operations. Several visitors from distant districts were unable to access the site. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Kamruzzaman termed it a criminal offence, stating they advised the Kachharibari authority to register a police complaint and implemented security measures at the archaeological site. Prince Dwarkanath Tagore, Rabindranath's grandfather, acquired the Shahzadpur estate from Natore's Zamindar Rani Bhabani in 1840, predating the poet's birth. Rabindranath, upon assuming estate management responsibilities, visited Shahjadpur multiple times, residing at the Kachharibari mansion periodically over several years.
Hans India
37 minutes ago
- Hans India
Development and Welfare are priority for govt, asserts AP CM Chandrababu
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has asserted that development and welfare are the two fundamental pillars of the NDA coalition government. Joined by Minister Lokesh, Naidu emphasised the government's commitment to creating wealth and enhancing income, which will then be channelled into various development and welfare programmes. One of the notable initiatives discussed was the rollout of the 'Thalliki Vandanam' scheme, benefiting 67 lakh students. With an expenditure of Rs. 10,091 crore allocated for this scheme, Naidu indicated that Rs. 1,346 crore would be directed towards the development of schools. Naidu explained that while similar support was previously extended to a single individual under the 'Amma Vodi' scheme, the 'Thalliki Vandanam' initiative will now be available for as many children as there are. He said funds will be deposited directly into the accounts of fathers or guardians, and in cases where no mother is present, payments will be made to orphans as designated by the District Collector. The Chief Minister assured that the lists of beneficiaries under the programme will be accessible at village and ward secretariats. He urged anyone facing difficulties to submit complaints until 26th June, with final beneficiary lists set to be announced on 30th June.
