Delhi minister's daughter resigns after oppn accuses AAP of nepotism

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal courted fresh controversy after it emerged that his government had assigned a plum job to the daughter of Health Minister Satyendar Jain, in his own department.

According to a report on NDTV, 26-year-old Soumya Jain who was appointed to oversee the work of mohalla clinics across Delhi quit from the post on Thursday, following charges of nepotism against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

Opposition parties slammed the AAP government, questioning Soumya's appointment, as little had been disclosed about her selection. Jain, who is trained to be an architect, has never studied public health. Moreover, the post was created specially for her as a new project of the AAP government.

Coming to his daughter's defence, Satyendar Jain said that his daughter gave up a lot of lucrative offers and dedicated herself to the mohalla clinics. He also claimed that she was not being paid a "single penny".

Soumya had apparently been made in-charge of the clinics on an honorary basis. She was also designated as advisor to the health secretary-cum-mission director of the National Health Mission.

"It was not an executive post. She has resigned as advisor for the mohalla clinics as she was hurt by the controversy over her appointment. She was being mentally tortured despite that fact she has done nothing wrong," he said.

Defending the government's decision to appoint his daughter as an advisor for the mohalla clinics, the minister said Soumya is also his political advisor and often makes suggestions to him. "She is a qualified architect and a brilliant student. She recently decided against taking admission in a reputed institution, saying that she was busy for the next three-four months. She was not paid any money," he said.

Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay said, that the nepotism in appointments and corruption in administration has reached its zenith under the Kejriwal government.

“Mohalla Clinics have been opened in the houses of party workers providing them means of income. The appointment of the health minister’s daughter as advisor for the clinics is a case of clash of interest and this appointment should be cancelled immediately,” said Mr Upadhyay, demanding that the Delhi government should publicly state whether Ms Jain receives any remuneration from any other department of the government.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said her selection was "illegal and absolute double speak from the party which kept targeting others for family links."

The Aam Admi Party has created 100 mohalla clinics so far, and has also declared that the capital will have 1000 such clinics by the end of March.