Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 4: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi president and senior leader Saurabh Bharadwaj on Monday staged a protest outside the Kalkaji Mohalla Clinic, alleging that nearly 200 such clinics across the national capital have been shut down by the current Delhi administration.

Bharadwaj accused the BJP-led government of backtracking on its pre-election promise to continue welfare schemes introduced by the AAP government under Arvind Kejriwal. “Before the elections, senior BJP leaders repeatedly assured the people of Delhi that they would not close the Mohalla Clinics or stop welfare schemes. But now, 200 clinics have been shut down, and even free bus rides for women are likely to end soon,” he said while addressing reporters.

Mohalla Clinics, launched during AAP’s tenure, were a flagship public health initiative aimed at providing free primary healthcare, medicines, diagnostic tests, and vaccination services to residents, particularly those from low-income communities. These community-based clinics had become a model for accessible neighbourhood healthcare and were widely recognised for reducing the burden on government hospitals.

Following the regime change in February 2025, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s government tabled a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report citing major lapses in Delhi’s healthcare infrastructure, including staff shortages and poor management. Subsequently, several Mohalla Clinics were reportedly replaced by Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs — part of a central initiative modelled on the Ayushman Bharat scheme that offers free medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh.

Bharadwaj, however, criticised the move, alleging it undermines Delhi’s community health model. “Mohalla Clinics were a lifeline for lakhs of people. Closing them is not governance reform — it’s a betrayal of Delhi’s poor,” he said, demanding immediate restoration of the clinics and continued support for AAP’s welfare policies.