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AAP promises free, quality healthcare in poll-bound Himachal
AAP on Thursday promised to provide free and quality healthcare in Himachal if voted to power in the upcoming assembly elections
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday promised to provide free and quality healthcare in Himachal if voted to power in the upcoming assembly elections.
“If voted to power, the AAP government will set up facilities like Mohalla Clinics on the lines of Delhi and Punjab at village and ward levels in HP and improve the infrastructure of government hospitals to provide quality healthcare to the people of the state,” said Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia addressing a townhall meeting in Una.
Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann was also present at the event, making it the AAP leaders’ second visit to the state in less than 10 days.
“The AAP government will also implement the Delhi scheme of free treatment for the accident victims,” he said, adding that if this can happen in Delhi and Punjab, it can also be done in Himachal, but for that, people must vote for the AAP.
Sisodia also announced ₹1 crore compensation for the family of defence, paramilitary and state police personnel, who die on the line of duty.
The Delhi deputy CM said that he has learnt that in remote areas, people have to carry the patients and pregnant women on cots and palanquins to hospital. “There are hospital buildings but no doctors; machines but no technician,” he said, adding that Delhi government spends 15-18% of its budget on health while in Himachal, it is only 5%.
Not afraid of CBI, ED
Referring to CBI raids at his residence and office, Sisodia said it seems the AAP’s growing support in Himachal has baffled the BJP.
“Day after I visited Himachal on August 17, an FIR was lodged against me. I am not afraid of CBI or ED as we have not done corruption of a single penny,” Sisodia said, adding that the CBI found nothing from his house except books and pencils.
“When they couldn’t scare me with CBI, they sent a message that I should join the BJP and even offered CM’s post. Put me in jail or I die, but I will not betray people of this country,” he said. Punjab CM Mann said successive governments have destroyed health sector of the country. “They closed the hospitals and schools to give a ready-made market to private players,” he said.
He said governments in Delhi and Punjab have brought a sea change in health and education as the AAP is the only party that talks about the issue concerning people.
