Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday sought public opinion on whether to keep the state borders open and risk the capital’s hospitals getting choked with outstation patients, angering critics who said Delhi’s hospitals were for all Indians.

“People from across the country come to Delhi for medical treatment because, first, Delhi’s healthcare system is better than (that of) any other state,” Kejriwal said while announcing lockdown relaxations starting from Monday.

“Second, medical services at government hospitals in Delhi are free.... As soon as we open the borders, people from across the country will come to Delhi for better treatment.”

The Aam Aadmi Party leader added: “We have a capacity of 9,500 beds for corona(virus) treatment in Delhi hospitals against 2,300 patients today, but all the beds will be occupied in just 2-3 days if we have an influx of patients from across the country.”

Kejriwal had earlier too caused controversy by accusing patients from states such as Bihar of flooding Delhi’s hospitals, and trying to reserve 80 per cent hospital beds for Delhi residents — a move the high court shot down.

“What should we do? Should Delhi’s borders be opened?” he asked on Monday.

“Some people believe the borders should be opened but treatment at hospitals should be given only to Delhi residents. But how can we do that? Delhi is the national capital and belongs to all, even to people of Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. How can Delhi deny treatment to all these people now?”

He went on: “Some people believe that this practice should be adopted only until the corona (virus threat passes). We have various suggestions and we need your guidance on what should be done.”

The government’s phone numbers and email address were given out so the people could send their views in a virtual referendum.

While seeking views by Friday, Kejriwal on Monday sealed Delhi’s borders (with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh) for a week, with exemptions for government servants and people with e-passes from their district authorities.

Kejriwal is no stranger to mobilising public opinion to advance his agenda. His government had on May 12 sought the people’s views to push for more lockdown relaxations, but the move fell flat when the Centre announced relaxations the same evening.

BJP parliamentarian Gautam Gambhir tweeted on Monday: “Just to hide your failure, you want to punish innocent ppl merely because they live across the border? Those are Indians just like you and me! You promised of being ready for 30,000 patients in April, remember? Why ask such leading questions now Mr. Tughlaq?”

Congress politician Ajay Maken tweeted: “Kejriwal ji While just blaming outsiders for crumbling Delhi health care facilities & sealing the borders- Would the borders be sealed for 630 admitted at AIIMS Jhajjar (Haryana) out of total 2395 hospitalised Delhi COVID patients, when they come back?”

An overburdened AIIMS, New Delhi, had redirected many patients to its branch in Jhajjar.

Delhi has seen close to 1,000 cases every day for the last four days, with an overall Covid-19 death count of 523.

The relaxations announced on Monday include the reopening of marketplaces, factories and barber shops, resumption of bus services with not more than 20 passengers per bus (and with thermal screening), and the running of auto-rickshaws and rickshaws with more than one passenger.