In dramatic developments amid the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) campaign for Delhi Assembly polls, the capital’s Health and Family Welfare department has red-flagged the ruling AAP’s registration drive for Sanjeevani Yojana, a scheme to provide free treatment to Delhi’s residents aged over 60 at private and government hospitals. Also, the Women and Child Development department has disowned the Mahila Samman Yojana that promises Rs 2,100 per month to women of the capital. 

In a public notice published in newspapers, the health department has said that it does not have “any such supposed Sanjeevani scheme in existence”. It added that it had not authorised anyone to collect personal data from elderly citizens and is not providing any card.

This comes after AAP leaders, including Chief Minister Atishi and party convener Arvind Kejriwal, visited several areas and launched doorstep registration for Sanjeevani Yojana and Mahila Samman Yojana. The department said any individual or political party collecting such forms under the name of this scheme is “fraudulent and without any authority”.

“If a person/entity calls you or visits you with the promise to provide benefit of free treatment under this supposed non-existent scheme or provide you some “Health/Sanjeevani Scheme Card in this regard, then you are hereby advised to: (1) not believe in any promise of free treatment under the supposed non-existent “Sanjeevani scheme” (2) not to provide any personal detail to anybody claiming to provide benefits under the scheme (3) not to affix your signature or thumbprint on any document unknowingly.”

The department has said it will not be responsible for any liabilities or frauds arising out of such “unscrupulous activities”.

The Women and Child Development department said in a notice that no scheme called Mahila Samman Yojana has been notified. 

“As, if and when such a scheme is notified, the Department of Women and Child Development (WCD), GNCTD, will launch a digital portal for eligible individuals to submit their applications online as per the approved guidelines. The eligibility conditions and modalities will be clearly notified by the department as and when it happens. It is emphasized that since no such scheme exists, the question of physical forms / applications for the registration under this non-existent scheme does not arise,” it said, adding that any individual collecting forms or information in the name of this scheme is “fraudulent and without any authority”. The department has warned that sharing personal information in the public domain may lead to people falling prey to cybercrime. 

Shortly after the notices were issued, Mr Kejriwal targeted the BJP-led central government. “The Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevani Yojana have rattled them. Within the next few days, they plan to arrest Atishi ji in a fake case. Before that, senior AAP leaders would be raided,” he posted on X.

This order plays out against the backdrop of the power tussle between Delhi’s elected government and the Centre. The principal secretaries of all Delhi departments report to the Chief Secretary, a central government appointee. This, in effect, means that the AAP government has no control over Delhi officers, an issue it has repeatedly raised in its 10-year rule in the national capital.  

The Supreme Court ruled last year that the Delhi government would control the services in the capital, but the Centre brought an ordinance and then an Act to overturn this. This Act established National Capital Civil Services Authority, comprising the Chief Minister, Delhi Chief Secretary and Principal Home Secretary. This Authority makes recommendations to Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor on officials’ transfers and postings and disciplinary matters. The Chief Secretary and Principal Home Secretary are Centre’s appointees and can easily outvote the Chief Minister. 

Amid growing violence against minority Hindus in Bangladesh, the United Nations has asked Dhaka to ensure the protection of the human rights of all Bangladeshi citizens, irrespective of religion. During a phone conversation with US National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan, Bangladesh’s interim government chief Muhammad Yunus expressed commitment to protect human rights in the troubled South Asian nation.

“Both leaders expressed their commitment to respecting and protecting the human rights of all people, regardless of religion,” the White House said in a statement about the call between Mr Sullivan and Mr Yunus.

The call comes less than a month before the Biden administration is set to pass on the power to Donald Trump, who would be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on January 20 next year. It also came at the backdrop of attacks on Bangladesh’s Hindu minority and their places of worship.

Mr Sullivan during the call thanked Yunus for his leadership of Bangladesh during a challenging period, the White House said.

“Sullivan re-iterated the United States’ support for a prosperous, stable, and democratic Bangladesh, and offered the United States’ continued support in meeting the challenges Bangladesh faces,” said the readout of the call.

Outrage Of Killing of Hindus In Bangladesh

There have been a spate of incidents of violence against Hindus and other minorities, as well as attacks on temples in Bangladesh after the fall of the Hasina government.

On December 13, the White House said that President Joe Biden is closely monitoring the situation in Bangladesh and the US will hold the country’s interim government accountable for ensuring the protection of religious and ethnic minorities.

The conversation between Mr Sullivan and Mr Yunus comes days after Indian American Democratic Congressman Shri Thanedar urged the White House to strongly raise the issue of the killing of Hindus and destruction of their temples in Bangladesh with the head of the country’s interim government.

“The United States has a storied history of championing the oppressed and this issue should be no different. When we receive a global call for help, we must respond appropriately as the world’s bellwether of human rights. We must urge Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus to fulfil his promise of restoring peace and rebuilding the nation on principles of equality and justice,” Thanedar said last week.

Advocacy group HinduAction said that disturbing reports of brutal attacks against the Hindus continue to surface, particularly over the past two weeks, as desperate pleas for help pour in from those affected on the ground.

HinduACTion executive director Utsav Chakrabarti said what has happened in the last five and half months in Bangladesh clearly reflects that “Muhammad Yunus has failed to contain” his allies in the Jamaat-e-Islami who are now running around the country, burning temples, killing people, raping women and indulging in atrocities against priests and leaders from the Hindu community by incarcerating them.

“It is incumbent upon our current administration as well as the upcoming administration to put sanctions on Bangladesh, as Congressman Thanedar has pointed out,” Chakrabarti said.

“It is important that we clearly chart out a path for safe autonomous zones for the Hindus, all 15 million of them, along with the Buddhists and Christians within the boundaries of Bangladesh,” he added.

For the second year running, tourists are staying away and public festivities have been cancelled. 

​For the second year running, tourists are staying away and public festivities have been cancelled.