AAP for bridging gaps to fight chikungunya

NEW DELHI: Amid raging blame game over chikungunya deaths in the city, the Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday called for “bridging gaps” between the government and other

NEW DELHI: Amid raging blame game over chikungunya deaths in the city, the Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday called for “bridging gaps” between the government and other stakeholders, including the BJP-ruled civic bodies.

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The AAP leaders on Wednesday underlined the need to “rise above politics” in tackling the health crisis the city is battling with.

The development came a day after chief minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be “questioned” over the issue, as “all powers” regarding the city’s governance “rested with them”.

Delhi water minister Kapil Mishra too had said that Jung “deliberately sent” the Delhi health secretary on 15-day leave even as he (the L-G) himself left on a personal trip abroad.

On Wednesday, Mishra wrote an open letter to all his political opponents, urging all stakeholders to get rid of the “barriers” among the Delhi government, the Lieutenant Governor, civic bodies and the Centre in favour of # OneDelhi— a hashtag that the party pushed on Twitter.

AAP’s Delhi convener Dilip Pandey also made a similar appeal, saying everyone — including the elected representatives of BJP and AAP — should work together to combat chikungunya.

“Delhi’s seven MPs, 70 MLAs and 272 municipal councillors can do it together by hitting the streets and undertaking fogging exercises, wherever possible. In fact, the MPs should lead the programme and guide the MLAs,” Mishra said.

Later in the day, Mishra and BJP MP from northeast Delhi, Manoj Tiwari conducted joint fogging in Karawal Nagar, the assembly constituency of Mishra that falls in northeast Delhi.

“We all need to work together to provide relief to people. I thank Union health minister JP Nadda and Kapil Mishra for taking a step ahead in the right direction,” Tiwari said. Mishra and Tiwari walked with bicycles carrying the fogging machines as part of the fumigation drive to prevent mosquito breeding in their constituency.

Surprised, residents took to the streets and came out on their balconies to catch glimpses of the duo, even as party workers raised slogans of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and ‘Vande Matram’.

Residents, however, claimed Wednesday was the second instance of fogging being conducted in the area. “Every second house here has a patient or two of chikungunya. What happened today was also more of a political gimmick,” said Ram Jaiswal, a local pharmacy shop owner.

Others said that the drains are not cleaned for months. A private clinic in the area was packed with patients having symptoms of dengue, chikungunya and viral fever.

“I see 12-15 cases of chikungunya every day. Despite that no real preventive measures were taken,” said, Dr D K Biswas, who runs the clinic.

“I see 12-15 cases of chikungunya every day. Despite that no real preventive measures were taken ,” said, Dr D KB is was, who runs the clinic.