Arvind Kejriwal Arrest: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday issued a second directive from the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) directing the health department on the smooth functioning of Mohalla Clinics and Delhi government hospital. The Delhi Chief Minister has asked the health authorities to ensure that free tests and medicines are available to people at all Mohalla Clinics and government hospitals.

Addressing a press briefing just ahead of AAP's call to Gherao PM Modi's residence in Delhi, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that the CM is concerned about the lack of availability of medicines and free tests in many hospitals and Mohalla Clinics. Bharadwaj said that the CM has asked them to ensure that no one should suffer, even if he is in jail.

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"Even from the ED custody, Delhi CM is worried about the health care of the state. He is worried that because he is jailed, the people of Delhi should not suffer because of it. The CM has received information that people are facing difficulties in the tests carried out at the Mohalla clinics. He has directed me to take steps to resolve this. I want to ensure the people of Delhi that even of your CM is in jail, he is only thinking about you," Bharadwaj said.

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Bharadwaj further said that the CM's directive came after he received information about problems with laboratory tests available at Mohalla Clinics. "The health department will act immediately to address the issues," Bharadwaj said. Earlier last week, CM Kejriwal issued the first order while in the ED's custody, directing Water Minister Atishi to resolve water and sewage issues in the national Capital.

Meanwhile, as the issue of authenticity looms on the directions issued by CM Kejriwal from ED's custody, legal experts said that no permission has been granted to the CM by the court to issue orders. "AAP is issuing these orders in the name of Arvind Kejriwal because the court has not granted permission to issue any orders to the CM due to his remand by the ED," SC lawyer Vineet Jindal said, as quoted by IANS.

'Mere Drama,' Says BJP

The BJP reacted sharply to the new directive issued by Arvind Kejriwal calling it a "drama to play victim card". "Saurabh Bharadwaj said that Arvind Kejriwal is worried about the people of Delhi and has issued a new direction for the health department. Few days back, he issued a direction to Atishi regarding the Delhi Jal Board. Suddenly, he is now worried about Delhi. This is a drama to play the victim card," BJP leader Harish Khurana said.

BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa also wrote to Delhi LG Vinai Kumar Saxena, raising questions about the legitimacy of the orders issued by Kejriwal from jail. In his letter to LG, Sirsa said that the letter that AAP claimed to be a directive by Delhi CM did not carry the signature of Kejriwal, indicating that it was 'forged'.

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"The said purported Office Order shockingly does not even carry the Officer Order Number, date of issue and even the signature of Arvind Kejariwal is not there and hence it is clear that Ms. Atishi has unauthorizedly and illegally mis-used and abused her official capacity as a Minister for unauthorizedly accessing and using the "Official Letter-head" of the "Office of the Chief Minister, Government of NCT Delhi" for fabricating an "Officer Order" and the same fabricated "Office Order" has been illegally projected and used as the Office Order issued by Kejriwal," Sirsa said.

The BJP leader also urged the Delhi LG to pass necessary directions for the registration of FIR against the fabrication and forgery of the official records by the unconstitutional use of the office of the Chief Minister of Delhi. "This order is illegal and unconstitutional; we demand an enquiry as to who is misusing CMO and for what personal gains!" Sirsa later wrote on X.

CM Kejriwal, who was arrested on March 21 and subsequently remanded to ED custody until March 28 by a Delhi court, faces allegations of direct involvement in a conspiracy related to the formulation of an excise policy favouring specific individuals.CM Kejriwal is also accused of soliciting kickbacks from liquor businessmen in exchange for favours, as claimed by the probe agency.


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