Jaipur, February 12 The Rajasthan Assembly witnessed a heated debate on Thursday after Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar termed the state's Right to Health Act as "populist," arguing that there was no need to frame rules under the legislation brought by the previous Congress government.
During Question Hour, Congress MLA Harimohan Sharma stated that the Right to Health Act was notified on April 12, 2023, but its rules have not yet been made. He questioned why the rules had not been made even after two years.
Responding to this, Khimsar said the legislation was brought by the erstwhile Congress government with political motives – a populist measure introduced ahead of assembly elections. He stated that the bill was introduced suddenly and the views of stakeholders were not incorporated.
The minister also pointed out that the BJP government is already implementing the MAA scheme, under which various health facilities are being provided.
He asserted that the MAA scheme is comprehensive and there is no need for the Right to Health Act, also questioning why the previous Congress government did not make rules under the act during its tenure.
Responding to this, Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully said the government should clarify whether it intends to make the rules or not. He alleged that the government was neglecting the health of the people of Rajasthan.
Congress MLAs created a commotion in the assembly over the minister's reply. Speaker Vasudev Devnani asked members to return to their seats and warned that he would adjourn the House if order was not maintained. After a brief disruption, the opposition members resumed their seats.
Later, protesting against the minister's statement, Congress members staged a walkout from the House.
Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot also criticised the minister's statement.
In a statement, Gehlot said the health minister's comment in the assembly that there was no need for the Right to Health Act was condemnable and was like rubbing salt into the wounds of poor and middle-class families burdened by rising medical expenses.
He said despite implementing universal healthcare schemes such as the Chiranjeevi Yojana and the Nirogi Rajasthan Yojana, the then Congress government had conceptualised the Right to Health Act to ensure that no patient was deprived of treatment in emergency situations.
Gehlot alleged that the BJP government has failed to make rules under the act and is now making excuses.
He said while the Congress government intended to protect people from expensive medical treatment through the Right to Health Act, the BJP government was surrendering before the "medical lobby" and portraying the legislation as unnecessary.