Delhi’s political landscape heated up as AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj unleashed a scathing critique of the Ayushman Arogya Mandir project. In a detailed expose during a public rally, he dismantled the narrative of revolutionary healthcare reforms peddled by the ruling dispensation.
Launched with fanfare to integrate AYUSH systems into public health, the initiative promised 1,000 mandirs offering free consultations in yoga, Ayurveda, and Unani. Yet, Bharadwaj painted a grim picture: crumbling infrastructure, ghost facilities, and doctors moonlighting elsewhere. ‘Where are the miracle cures when people need them most?’ he asked, citing cases of denied services in East Delhi slums.
Armed with RTI responses and ground reports, Bharadwaj alleged fund mismanagement worth crores, with contractors pocketing payments for unfinished work. He contrasted this with AAP’s Mohalla Clinics success, accusing rivals of sabotage through policy delays. The speech resonated with crowds frustrated by long queues at government hospitals.
Responding to the barrage, AAP defended the scheme as a work in progress, blaming COVID aftermath for setbacks. But Bharadwaj’s offensive has ignited debates on fiscal prudence in wellness programs. As he rallies support for probes, the Arogya Mandir saga underscores deeper challenges in India’s public health architecture, with implications for national AYUSH expansion.