The war of words between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi and Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena took another turn after Delhi Deputy Chief minister Manish Sisodia on January 15 alleged that officials of the Health and Finance Departments “deliberately” stopped salaries of doctors at Mohalla Clinics.
Sisodia also stated that officers from the departments stated that LG issued strict orders not to make payments prior to the elections or they would be suspended.
Sisodia wrote a letter to LG Saxena recommending suspension and filing of an FIR against officers of the Delhi government for allegedly stopping funds.
In the letter, Sisodia said the officers stopped the funds for Mohalla Clinics in October and November, before the MCD elections.
“Just before the MCD elections in Delhi, a huge conspiracy was hatched to disturb the people of Delhi. Officials of the Health and Finance Departments deliberately stopped the salaries of doctors at Mohalla Clinics. Rent, electricity bills, and lab test payments to Mohalla Clinics were stopped before the MCD elections to anger the public,” Sisodia said.
Implying that LG Saxena had a role in the plot, Sisodia said that officials from the concerned departments said that LG gave strict instructions to not make payments before the elections or else they would be suspended.
“LG must immediately identify and suspend officers responsible for the crisis and register an FIR. Otherwise, it will be proved that LG has wronged the people of Delhi by misusing the powers of the services department for electoral gains,” Sisodia said in his letter.
“Just before the MCD elections in Delhi, a huge conspiracy was hatched to disturb the people of Delhi. You know that every month about 15 lakh people come to the Mohalla Clinics set up by the Delhi government for their treatment,” he said.
“In mohalla clinics, people are treated by MBBS doctors for free, their tests are done at no cost, and they are given free medicines. Mohalla Clinics are built in every corner of Delhi, so people can get quality medical help easily and quickly. Just before the MCD elections, a conspiracy was hatched to stall this entire system of mohalla clinics,” Sisodia added.
“The interesting thing is that soon after the elections were over, in December, all the objections were suddenly removed and all the payments were made. How did this happen? It is clear from this that just two months before the elections, withholding the salary and other payments related to Mohalla Clinic was a part of a big conspiracy,” Sisodia alleged.