Chandigarh-A new controversy has erupted in Punjab after an audio recording surfaced, raising serious concerns about political influence in the functioning of the state’s Health Department. The recording, which is circulating widely, has triggered demands for immediate clarification from Health Minister Balbir Singh.
According to the claims linked to the audio, instructions to Punjab’s health officials were allegedly being issued by an unidentified individual based in Delhi. The identity of this person—and the authority under which they were directing Punjab’s administrative machinery—has become the first major question now facing the Health Minister.
The second issue emerging from the recording concerns the registration process for the state’s newly launched health insurance scheme. Instead of deploying government staff for the enrollment drive, the audio suggests that responsibilities were being assigned to workers of the Aam Aadmi Party. Even more troubling are allegations that beneficiaries were told to register only through slips distributed by party office‑bearers.
These revelations have sparked a debate about whether the scheme is truly a government initiative or whether it is being used as a political tool. Critics argue that if party workers are controlling access to a public welfare program, it raises fears of voter data collection, political pressure, and the possibility of linking government benefits to party affiliation.
Opposition leaders and civil society groups have demanded that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also respond to the allegations. They insist that government schemes must be administered strictly through official channels, not party structures, and that any deviation undermines constitutional norms and public trust.
As the controversy grows, the state government faces increasing pressure to explain who is directing the scheme’s operations and wh