The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India recently released a performance audit report exposing significant financial and administrative mismanagement in Delhi’s healthcare system under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led government during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report, tabled by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta in the Assembly, has sparked political controversy, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing AAP of severe negligence in handling pandemic relief funds.
CAG Report Findings: Unutilized Covid Funds and Mismanagement
According to the CAG report, the AAP government utilized only ₹582.84 crore out of the ₹787.91 crore allocated by the central government for COVID-19 relief. This raised concerns about inadequate healthcare services at a time when Delhi was one of the worst-hit regions in India. The report also pointed out operational shortcomings in mohalla clinics and government hospitals, indicating a lack of basic infrastructure.
Among the shocking revelations were:
- Poorly Equipped Mohalla Clinics:
- 21 clinics lacked toilets.
- 15 clinics had no power backup.
- 6 clinics lacked essential tables for patient check-ups.
- 12 clinics were not accessible to disabled patients.
- Dismal State of AYUSH Dispensaries:
- 17 out of 49 dispensaries had no power backup.
- 7 had no toilet facilities.
- 14 had no access to drinking water.
These findings highlighted the poor implementation of Delhi’s much-advertised mohalla clinic initiative, which was designed to provide accessible and affordable healthcare to citizens.
BJP Slams AAP, Calls It a ‘Scam’
The ruling BJP has taken an aggressive stance against the AAP, alleging large-scale corruption in healthcare spending. Delhi minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa claimed that the CAG report exposes how former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal misused public funds meant for hospitals and pandemic response.
“The CAG report will reveal how Arvind Kejriwal looted Delhi in the name of healthcare. There was no power supply in mohalla clinics, patients struggled for basic treatment, and yet AAP continued its propaganda,” Sirsa stated.
The BJP also pointed to the lack of transparency in the AAP government’s handling of COVID-19 funds, arguing that the failure to use the allocated money effectively contributed to unnecessary suffering for Delhi’s residents during the pandemic.
AAP’s Defense: ‘A Normal Process Being Politicized’
AAP leaders have rejected the allegations, stating that presenting a CAG report is a standard government procedure. Party spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar accused the BJP of setting a false narrative, saying that the report had already been submitted under former CM Atishi’s administration.
“This is a normal audit process, but BJP is using it to manipulate public perception. Our former chief minister Atishi had already submitted all necessary documents regarding the CAG report,” Kakkar stated.
Despite AAP’s defense, the report’s findings have raised concerns about governance, particularly the lack of efficient fund utilization in the healthcare sector.
Excise Policy Controversy Also Under Scrutiny
The Delhi Assembly also referred a separate CAG report on the excise policy to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for examination. The excise policy of 2021-22, which was scrapped after allegations of corruption, reportedly led to a revenue loss of ₹2,026.91 crore due to weak policy formulation and mismanagement.
With multiple financial irregularities coming to light, the AAP government is under increasing pressure to address these allegations. While the party has dismissed accusations as politically motivated, the findings of the CAG report raise critical questions about Delhi’s healthcare governance and pandemic response strategies.
As political tensions rise over these revelations, Delhi’s citizens remain at the center of the debate, demanding accountability and better healthcare infrastructure. The coming weeks may see further investigations, debates, and possible legal actions to address the concerns raised by the CAG report.
