Kejriwal not adopting health scheme fearing Modi's popularity: Shah
New Delhi, Sep 28 : BJP President Amit Shah on Friday slammed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for not adopting the Centre's Ayushman Bharat scheme, claiming he feared it will increase Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity among the people.
"... the Delhi government has started a non-cooperation movement. They may have taken inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi, but they may not have known that it is not the British government but a patriot Modi government at the Centre," Shah said after inaugurating a party office in central Delhi's Karol Bagh area.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader also accused the Kejriwal government of stalling development in the national capital by doing "cheap politics".
"What is the reason that the Ayushman Bharat scheme has not been launched in the city?" Shah questioned.
He said that Kejriwal deprived over one-and-a-half crore people in Delhi of the benefits of the healthcare scheme.
He said that those residing in clusters or unauthorised colonies in Delhi will not get the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat scheme due to Kejriwal's vote-bank politics.
"They are giving excuse that they have built Mohalla Clinics. But can these provide treatment for cancer, stents for heart surgery, knee replacements?"
Taking a dig at the Chief Minister, Shah said that "Kejriwal should first get himself treated at any Mohalla Clinic to come across the reality."
He said that the city's voters would set the account right in 2019. "You should not blame the EVMs (electronic voting machines) then," Shah said.
Attacking Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Kejriwal, Shah said that they feel pain only on issues such as implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam and action against Maoists in the country.
"They are pained when we take action to identify illegal immigrants and against Maoist elements. But we are pained when anti-India slogans are raised," Shah said.
He asserted that the BJP government will identify and expel every illegal immigrant from the country after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
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25 killed in lightning strikes, hailstorms in several districts of Bihar
Patna, Apr 10 (PTI): At least 25 people were killed in lightning strikes and hailstorms in several districts of Bihar on Thursday, officials said.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), Nalanda reported 18 deaths, followed by two in Siwan, one each in Katihar, Darbhanga, Begusarai, Bhagalpur and Jehanabad.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, however, claimed in a post on X that over 50 people died on Thursday.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of more than 50 people in various incidents of storm, rain, lightning, tree and wall collapse in Bihar. I express my deepest condolences. May God provide strength to the families affected by the disaster in this hour of grief,” he wrote in Hindi.
He also said that the state government should compensate farmers for their crop loss due to the sudden rain and give them proper compensation.
Earlier, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar condoled the deaths and announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased.
On Wednesday, 13 people had died in lightning strikes in four districts of Bihar.
The India Meteorological Department has issued an ‘orange alert’ (be prepared) for a number of districts, including Darbhanga, East Champaran, Gopalganj, West Champaran, Kishanganj, Araria, Supaul, Gaya, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Nalanda, Nawada and Patna.
It has also forecast heavy rainfall on Friday and Saturday in these districts.
"Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) likely to occur at few places over Madhubani, Darbhanga, East Champaran, Gopalganj, West Champaran, Kishanganj, Araria, Supaul, Gaya, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Nalanda, Nawada, Patna," the IMD said in a bulletin.
Water-logging was also reported on Thursday from several parts of Patna following heavy rain.
The state capital recorded an average of 42.6 mm rainfall till 5.30 pm.
Officials of the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) and district administration, however, claimed that rainwater was drained out in the shortest possible time despite the downpour.
