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.

The Central government on Saturday convened a crucial meeting with representatives of Manipur’s warring Meitei and Kuki communities in a renewed push to establish lasting peace in the troubled state. According to reports, the dialogue was part of a broader initiative to broker a harmonious resolution to the ethnic strife that erupted in May 2023, leaving the region in turmoil.

The meeting, held in New Delhi, focused on building trust and fostering cooperation between the two groups while charting a path toward restoring normalcy in Manipur. “The discussions emphasized maintaining law and order and promoting reconciliation to heal the deep divisions,” reports revealed. The goal was to create a roadmap that addresses the root causes of the conflict and ensures stability for all communities.

The Meitei delegation included six members, representing key organizations such as the All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO) and the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS). The Kuki side was represented by approximately nine leaders. The Central Government team was led by A.K. Mishra, a retired special director of the Intelligence Bureau, who served as an interlocutor in the talks.

This effort follows earlier statements by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a Lok Sabha debate on Thursday, April 3, 2025. Responding to a discussion on a Statutory Resolution confirming the imposition of the President’s rule in Manipur, Shah disclosed that the Ministry of Home Affairs had previously held separate consultations with representatives of both communities and various organizations.

“We will soon organize a joint meeting to advance these efforts,” he assured, stressing that the government’s primary objective is to end the violence and restore peace, even as he acknowledged that the situation, while improved with no deaths reported in the last four months, remains far from satisfactory. Many displaced individuals are still living in relief camps, he noted.

President’s rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13, 2025, after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned on February 9. The state assembly, with a term extending until 2027, has been placed under suspended animation. Since the outbreak of violence in May 2023, over 260 lives have been lost, and thousands of weapons were looted from police stations during the initial chaos, exacerbating the security crisis.

Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, who assumed office on January 3, 2025, and was hand-picked by Shah—having served as Union Home Secretary until August 2024—has been actively engaging with diverse groups across Manipur to gather insights and devise strategies for peace. Bhalla has taken several measures, including urging those who looted arms to surrender them, and has pushed to reopen state roads for normal traffic. However, these efforts have faced resistance, particularly from the Kuki community, which has opposed such moves.

The ethnic violence in Manipur was triggered by a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ in the hill districts, protesting a Manipur High Court order supporting the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status. This decision fueled tensions, leading to clashes between the Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and the hill-dwelling Kukis. Today, movement between areas dominated by either community is strictly prohibited, with Kukis relying on routes through Mizoram to travel outside the state, while Meiteis avoid Kuki-dominated hills altogether.

On Saturday, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, raised concerns about the recently passed Waqf Bill, claiming that it “attacks Muslims” and sets a dangerous precedent for targeting other communities in the future.

In a post on the social media platform X, Gandhi shared an article that suggested the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has redirected its focus to land owned by the Catholic Church following the passage of the Waqf Bill.

“I had warned that the Waqf Bill targets Muslims now, but it paves the way for future attacks on other communities. The RSS wasted no time in shifting its attention to Christians,” Gandhi stated in reference to the article.

He emphasized the importance of the Constitution as the sole protector against such attacks, declaring, “It is our collective responsibility to defend it.” When the Lok Sabha passed the bill, Gandhi remarked, “This assault on the Constitution by the RSS, BJP, and their allies is directed at Muslims today, but it sets a precedent for future attacks on other communities.”

KC Venugopal, another Congress leader, echoed these sentiments, sharing an article that noted the Catholic Church’s landholdings surpassing those of the Waqf Board. He stated, “As predicted, the first minority has been targeted; now it’s on to the next.”

Additionally, Congress MP Mohammad Jawed has challenged the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Supreme Court, asserting that it violates constitutional provisions. His petition claims that the bill imposes “arbitrary restrictions” on the management of Waqf properties, undermining the Muslim community’s religious autonomy.

The plea, filed through advocate Anas Tanwir, argues that the bill discriminates against Muslims by enforcing restrictions absent from the governance of other religious endowments.

The Waqf Bill was approved in the Rajya Sabha with 128 votes in favor and 95 against, while it received 288 votes in support and 232 against in the Lok Sabha on April 3.