Union minister Nadda slams Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on Ayushman Bharat scheme

NEW DELHI: Union health minister JP Nadda on Friday took a dig at Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the Centre's Ayushman Bharat scheme and said the Congress president has become a symbol of negativity.

The Union health minister was responding to Rahul's attack earlier in the day in which he said the initiative is a "handout" to 15-20 of India's richest businessmen.

"Ayushman Bharat Scheme is the limited scheme that is targeting a very limited number of healthcare issues. It is a handout to 15-20 richest businessmen in India. That is not the type of scheme we are going to run. My main criticism of Ayushman Bharat is, it gives insurance without a proper support structure from hospitals and medical professionals," he said.

"Rahul Gandhi's comments on Ayushman Bharat is a symbol of his little knowledge. He does not understand the difference between insurance and assurance," the Union minister tweeted, adding, "The Congress president does not have the intention, or thinking or the courage to appreciate good work."


The Union minister claimed that the Ayushman Bharat scheme had helped more than 15 lakh poor people by providing medicare worth Rs 2,000 crore.

"To make a baseless statement that Ayushman scheme has been implemented to help insurance companies is an insult to those people whose lives have been saved due to the scheme," he said.

Asking Rahul to have some shame, Nadda slammed the Congress president for making fun of those who are helpless and suffering due to poverty.