On the occasion of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) foundation day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reflected on the party’s transformative journey from modest beginnings to securing historic electoral mandates.

In a message to the nation, PM Modi underlined the consistent endorsement the BJP has received from the people of India, attributing it to the party’s agenda of good governance.

The prime minister extended his greetings to BJP workers across the country, acknowledging their pivotal role in shaping the party. “This important day makes us reiterate our unparalleled commitment to India’s progress and to realising the dream of a Viksit Bharat,” he said in a series of social media posts.

Modi emphasized that the BJP’s track record in governance has been instrumental in building public trust. “The people of India are seeing the good governance agenda of our party, reflected in the historic mandates we’ve received — be it in Lok Sabha, state Assembly, or local body elections,” he said.

Praising the grassroots efforts of BJP workers, Modi said their relentless service, especially towards the poor and marginalized, is a source of inspiration. “Their energy and enthusiasm are truly motivating,” he added.

Founded in 1980 from the remnants of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the BJP initially had a modest presence, contesting its first general election in 1984 and winning only two Lok Sabha seats. However, under the leadership of figures like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani, the party quickly gained traction, eventually forming the government in the 1990s. The BJP’s political dominance strengthened significantly under Modi, who led the party to a full majority in 2014 and has remained at the helm since then.

Union Health Minister and BJP president JP Nadda on Saturday took a swipe at former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, saying that pressing the correct button on the EVM during an election results in receiving medicine, while an incorrect choice leads to liquor instead.

Speaking at the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) launch in Delhi, Nadda brutally needled Kejriwal, saying, “The fingers of the people hold immense strength. Press the right button, and schemes like Ayushman Bharat Yojana are introduced, bringing healthcare to millions. Press the wrong button, and you end up with liquor distribution instead of medicine.”

His taunts were a veiled criticism of Kejriwal’s administration, which he accused of neglecting healthcare in favour of populist measures.

The launch marked a new chapter for Delhi, as the BJP-led Delhi government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Centre to implement the flagship health insurance scheme. This makes Delhi the 35th state or Union Territory to adopt AB-PMJAY, with West Bengal remaining the only region yet to join the initiative.

Nadda emphasised the scheme’s importance, calling it “not just an insurance plan, but an assurance of trust” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

The BJP president noted that in 2020-21, the central government allocated ₹60,000 crore for health infrastructure nationwide, of which Delhi received ₹2,000 crore. However, he accused the then Kejriwal government of opposing the scheme for a decade, even filing a court case to block its implementation in Delhi.

“They deprived Delhi’s people of this benefit and then shamelessly blamed the Central Government for their failures,” Nadda charged.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who attended the event, described the day as “historic” for the capital. “With Ayushman Bharat Yojana now in place, lakhs of eligible families will access free treatment. We are also enhancing healthcare infrastructure by building 24 new hospitals, adding 17,000 beds, and launching 400 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs,” she said.

Gupta added that approximately 6.54 lakh families in Delhi would now be covered under the scheme, receiving up to ₹5 lakh annually from the Centre, with an additional ₹5 lakh top-up from the Delhi government, totaling ₹10 lakh in health coverage per family.

The Ayushman Bharat scheme offers free and cashless treatment for 1,961 medical procedures across 27 specialties, including medicines, diagnostics, hospitalization, ICU care, and surgeries. Nadda also claimed that the scheme ensures cancer treatment begins within 30 days nationwide, underscoring its life-saving potential.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Nadda, Gupta, and other officials from the National Health Authority, signalling a collaborative effort to prioritise healthcare in Delhi. Nadda reiterated that under Modi’s vision, the welfare of Delhi’s residents remains a top priority, ensuring accessible and quality medical services for all.

In a major move to boost healthcare accessibility in the national capital, the Delhi government on Saturday officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre to roll out the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) — the Centre’s flagship health insurance scheme.

With this development, Delhi becomes the 35th state/UT to adopt the scheme, leaving West Bengal as the only state yet to come on board.

Eligible families in Delhi will now be entitled to an annual health insurance coverage of up to Rs 10 lakh, with Rs 5 lakh contributed by the Centre and an additional Rs 5 lakh top-up by the Delhi government. The scheme offers cashless treatment for 1,961 medical procedures across 27 specialities, including surgeries, hospitalisation, ICU care, diagnostics, and medications.

The MoU was signed between the Delhi government and the National Health Authority, the nodal body responsible for implementing the scheme, in the presence of Union Health Minister J P Nadda and newly elected Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

The decision to implement the scheme was one of the first made by the new BJP-led Delhi cabinet, which took office in February after breaking a 26-year dry spell for the party in the capital. Gupta and her six ministers approved the plan during their very first cabinet meeting on February 20.

Now that the agreement is in place, officials confirmed that a special campaign will soon be launched to identify and enrol eligible beneficiaries under the scheme in Delhi.