Delhi basement deaths spark massive students' protest, AAP-BJP blame game
New Delhi: The death of three civil service aspirants due to waterlogging in the basement of a coaching centre at Rajendra Nagar has ignited massive protests by students. Paramilitary forces have been deployed to manage the situation as students accuse municipal authorities of negligence.
The incident took place at a building housing Rau's IAS Study Circle, a prominent coaching institute for civil service aspirants. The institute's library, located in the basement, flooded following a downpour yesterday, trapping at least 20 students.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) M Harshavardhan stated that a criminal case has been registered. "Our forensic teams are here. We are committed to a proper investigation and finding the truth. Two people have been detained," he said.
"NDRF has recovered three bodies so far. One final search round is ongoing. Three students have been sent to the hospital and 13-14 others were rescued and are fine," he added.
Protesting students have strongly criticized civic authorities. "If this is the situation after 30 minutes of rain, who is responsible? No one has come to talk to us or given us any assurance. Who will fix responsibility?" a protester demanded.
Some students claimed that the "main culprits" are MCD and the institute's director. "MCD calls it a disaster, but I say this is negligence. Knee-deep water gathers in half an hour of rain," a student told news agency ANI.
The three victims have been identified as Tania Soni, Shreya Yadav, both 25, and Navin Delvin, 28.
Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi has termed the incident "very shocking" and called for a "thorough investigation" and “strongest possible action." She has ordered action against all coaching centres under MCD that are running commercial activities in basements in violation of laws. An inquiry has been ordered to identify any MCD officers responsible for the Rajendra Nagar incident.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the BJP launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi, which also controls the MCD. "This is a failure of the government and municipal corporation. This is the most insensitive government ever in this country. This is murder," BJP spokesperson Manjinder Singh Sirsa told NDTV.
The BJP has targeted Delhi Minister Atishi and local MLA Durgesh Pathak. Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva alleged that Pathak ignored repeated appeals by local residents to get drains cleaned. "Delhi Government's criminal negligence is responsible for this mishap. Jal Board Minister Atishi and local MLA Durgesh Pathak should take responsibility and resign," he said.
Pathak countered the BJP's attack by questioning their actions over the past 15 years. "This is a low-lying area and there is a water line here. Some drain has cracked and that led to the flooding. The teams are doing their work," he told news agency ANI.
"The BJP must answer too. For the past 15 years, this area had a BJP councillor. Why was the drain not made? All drains cannot be made in one year. Politics must not be done in this case," he added.
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Don't know reason behind Dhankhar's resignation: Kharge
Vijayapura (Karnataka), Jul 27 (PTI): Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said he has no information on the actual reason for Jagdeep Dhankhar resigning as the Vice President.
Dhankhar has to tell what really happened as the matter is between him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said.
Noting that Dhankhar always took the government's side, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha said he never allowed the opposition, whenever it tried to raise issues, whether it was concerning farmers or poor or on foreign policy issues.
"I don't know all those details. He (Dhankhar) was always on the government's side. He should say what happened," Kharge said in response to a question whether Dhankhar was forced to resign as he spoke in favour of farmers.
Speaking to reporters here, Kharge said, "When we raised several issues concerning farmers, poor, international issues or foreign policy, he never used to give us an opportunity (in Rajya Sabha as its Chairman)."
"When we tried to raise issues by giving notices on issues regarding the poor, atrocities against women, dalits and downtrodden, and incidents like Hindu-Muslim clashes, he did not give us an opportunity. It (reason for Dhankhar's resignation as Vice President) is between him and Modi. We don't have any information on that," he added.
In a sudden move, Dhankhar on July 21 evening resigned from his post as Vice President, citing medical reasons, triggering speculation in political circles.
In his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar said he was stepping down with immediate effect to "prioritise health care".
Responding to a question about changing the Karnataka Congress president, Kharge said, "All those things cannot be said now. Will speak later."
Currently, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar is holding the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president post on an extended tenure.
There have been voices within the ruling Congress in the state to replace him, citing him holding two key positions.
