Kolkata, August 16: The West Bengal government has officially launched the Ayushman Bharat scheme, and Minister Agnimitra Paul expressed her happiness regarding this initiative. She also criticized the Congress party over the Vande Mataram controversy.
As of August 16, the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) has commenced in West Bengal. This scheme will now operate alongside the existing Swasthya Sathi and Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme in the state.
During a media interaction, Minister Agnimitra Paul stated, “For representatives like us, this is a moment of great joy. Many patients suffering from serious illnesses used to come for treatment but lacked the financial means. The previous Mamata government’s health scheme, Swasthya Sathi, did not cover many severe diseases. Moreover, it was not applicable in other states, leaving the poor in a dire situation. Patients with serious illnesses had to sell their homes and farms to afford treatment.”
She added that after the BJP government took charge in West Bengal, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari initiated the Ayushman scheme. “Now, no poor person will be deprived of treatment due to lack of funds,” she emphasized.
On the Vande Mataram controversy, Minister Paul remarked, “We saw videos on social media where Sonia Gandhi was gesturing, indicating her dislike for Vande Mataram. She was reportedly asking others not to sing it. If you do not like Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s creation, why hide it?”
Agnimitra Paul further criticized the Congress party, stating, “Your party has engaged in anti-India activities while in power. The partition of the country was due to your ancestors. The way Jawaharlal Nehru treated Subhas Chandra Bose is something West Bengal will never forget.”
Meanwhile, BJP leader Locket Chatterjee condemned the objections raised against Vande Mataram, stating, “It is unfortunate that people are being stopped from singing the national song. In this country, there is a rule that Vande Mataram must be sung in full. Unfortunately, despite living in this country, they do not follow its rules. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote Vande Mataram, and it is about knowing and respecting our nation. What they have done is shameful.”
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