Lt. Governor of Delhi strikes down two of the Covid-19 orders by Arvind
Kejriwal in a major blow to Delhi Govt, reviving the centre vs Arvind Kejriwal
fight.
Two controversial orders by Kejriwal Govt were overruled by Lt. Governor
of Delhi Mr. Anil Baijal earlier today. In the order, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) governments
had ordered of testing only coronavirus symptoms patients and reserving and
blocking of hospital beds for the residents of Delhi only.
Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal overturned Arvind Kejriwal and team’s
order of testing only those showing COVID-19 symptoms and said asymptomatic and
high risk contacts of a virus patient will also be tested.
Any deviation from the testing rules of the Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR) "can result in further spread of COVID-19 in the
capital," Mr Baijal said in his order.
LG also overruled AAP’s decision to reserve hospitals run by the Delhi
government and some private hospitals for residents of the capital amid a surge
in coronavirus cases. LG is the representative of the central government in
Delhi and there has always been conflict of interest in both Kejriwal and the
Lt. Governor right from the first term of his in CMO.
Everyone will be treated in Delhi without "discrimination", Mr
Baijal said in his order, asserting that treatment "should not be denied
to any patient on grounds of being a non-resident". He referred to the
Supreme Court saying in various judgments that "Right to Health" is
an integral part of "Right to Life" in the constitution.
Arvind Kejriwal, who is not keeping well and will take the coronavirus
test tomorrow, said the Lieutenant Governor's decision would create a huge
problem and challenge for the people of Delhi. "Maybe it is God's will
that we should serve the people of the entire country. We will try to arrange
treatment for everybody," tweeted the Chief Minister
Mr. Kejriwal’s decision had drawn
criticism both from the ruling BJP and the Congress.
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram raised question against the move by
tweets, saying: "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?"
"Excellent step by LG to overrule Delhi Govt's idiotic order of not
treating patients from other states! India is ONE and we have to fight this
pandemic together!" – tweeted BJP MP Gautam Gambhir.
Delhi Health Minister, Satyendra Jain said going by the doubling rate in
the capital, Delhi would have around 56,000 COVID-19 cases in just two weeks.
Mr Kejriwal had justified the decision in the backdrop of allegations
that COVID-19 patients or suspected cases are being turned away by hospitals
and many private hospitals were claiming to be out of space despite a Delhi
government app showing available beds.
