Delhi Fire: BJP, Congress blame Kejriwal govt for mishap

Congress and BJP leaders on Sunday blamed the Arvind Kejriwal-led government for the Anaj Mandi fire mishap which claimed 43 lives.

Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari, who visited the spot along with the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Puri, said, "Electricity wires were dangling in the area but no action was taken by government agencies despite repeated complaints.

Congress too blamed the AAP government and the BJP-led municipal corporations for the incident.

"Kejriwal government is responsible for this. The MCDs come under the BJP. They are also equally responsible for it," Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee President Shubhash Chopra said.

Tiwari announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the families of each victim and Rs 25,000 for treatment to the injured, on behalf of the BJP.

The party also canceled all its programs on the day in view of the tragedy.

Puri said he was moved by the loss of life and he was with the families of the victims in their hour of grief.

"This settlement should not be here, they have been given alternative place but Delhi government has not shifted them," he charged.

Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta demanded that the Kejriwal government call an emergency session of the Assembly to discuss ways to prevent such incidents.

"Such incidents have become a regular feature which is very painful. The Kejriwal government should call a special session of the Assembly to stop recurrence of such incidents," Gupta said.

Senior BJP leader and former Union minister Vijay Goel said it was the Delhi government's responsibility to take action against illegal factories running in residential areas and prevent fire incidents.

"It has become a common thing now. Such incidents happen, the inquiry is conducted but the government does not do anything. Factories running in residential areas are to be provided plots at alternative places but the government did not do it," he said.

on the other hand, AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh have targeted the municipal corporation over the issue and said, "If a factory was operating illegally at a house, then, it was the responsibility of Municipal Corporation of Delhi to shut it. How did MCD allow the factory to run? Delhi Fire Service has clarified that it didn't give a no-objection certificate to the factory.

(With Agency Inputs)

Also Read: Delhi Fire: 43 people dead in blaze at Anaj Mandi