The Punjab unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s upcoming health insurance rollout, labelling it a “bundle of lies” designed to mislead voters. The Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna (MMSY) promises each family ₹10 lakh in cashless medical insurance, but the BJP claims that the programme is unviable mathematically and financially given the state’s soaring debt.
According to BJP’s former state minister Manoranjan Kalia, the state is only paying a nominal premium to the United India Insurance Company, leaving the majority of the financial risk to an already depleted state treasury. The BJP claims that the state is paying only ₹1 lakh as a premium to the insurance company, while the remaining financial burden is placed on the state health agency, ultimately falling on the state exchequer.
The BJP’s critique centres on Punjab’s deteriorating balance sheet, with the state’s total debt exceeding ₹4 lakh crore and its per capita debt standing at ₹1,23,274. The party argues that a government struggling to meet basic social security obligations cannot afford a massive new insurance entitlement. The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) also faces outstanding dues of more than ₹10,500 crore.
Kalia questioned how the administration plans to fund high-end medical treatments when it reportedly lacks the liquidity to pay timely old-age and widow pensions. He remarked that the scheme is not healthcare, but merely a “bundle of hollow promises and false claims”. The BJP has expressed doubt over how the government will bear the huge cost of the scheme when the state treasury is empty.
The AAP government has yet to issue a formal rebuttal to the figures presented by the BJP, maintaining that the January 15 launch of the MMSY will revolutionise affordable healthcare in the region. However, the BJP’s criticism has raised concerns over the viability of the scheme and the state’s ability to fund it. The opposition party’s allegations have also highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in the government’s financial commitments and budget allocations.