If I live or work in Delhi, am I a Delhiite?: Chidambaram

After Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal decided that in Delhi government and private hospitals only residents of Delhi will get treatment, Congress leader and former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram raised questions.

Chidambaram tweeted: "Mr Kejriwal says Delhi hospitals are only for Delhiites. Will he please tell us who is a Delhiite?"

"If I live or work in Delhi, am I a Delhiite?" he added.

Chidambaram said that he thought if a person had enrolled in Jan Aarogya Yojana/Aayushman Bharat, he can seek treatment in any enlisted hospital, public or private, anywhere in India.

"Did Mr Kejriwal take legal opinion before he made this announcement?" Chidambaram questioned.

The Delhi government has decided that the government hospitals and some private hospitals will be reserved only for the residents of the national capital.

Kejriwal made this announcement on Sunday after people questioned availability of beds in hospitals.

"For now, we have decided that the 10,000 beds under the Delhi government will be kept for city's residents. The beds under the Central government can be used by all. Private hospitals covering special treatment will be opened to all," said Kejriwal.

Not only the Congress but the BJP also slammed Kejriwal. BJP leader Shazia Ilmi said, "Person born in Haryana living in Ghaziabad and not the citizen of Delhi can rule but people from outside Delhi can't even get treatment. This Chaupat Raja Kejriwal Bin Tughlak will push Delhi into darkness."

( With inputs from IANS )