Cong, BJP blame each other, pass the buck

Even as five children died due to official apathy towards illegal construction, both Congress and BJP got into a blame game over the incident.

Even as five children died due to official apathy towards illegal construction, both Congress and BJP got into a blame game over the incident.

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The House proceedings of the Delhi Assembly were disrupted on Wednesday with the BJP staging a walkout even as Congress MLAs demanded a discussion on the incident. They claimed that the BJP ran the East Delhi Corporation was responsible for the five deaths.

"It is unfortunate that rather than discussing the issue, the BJP is politicising it. In the past 10 days, there have been three building collapses and the civic agency has been unable to stop unauthorised construction," said Mukesh Sharma, parliamentary secretary to the chief minister.

Urban development minister Arvinder Singh also blamed the corporation: "Preventing illegal construction is the responsibility of the local bodies. The BJP-ruled municipal corporations have failed in their duty." He added that an MLA's suggestion of stopping registration of properties with illegal construction and disconnection of their power and water lines will be discussed in the House.

But VK Malhota, Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, said "The land falls under the revenue department and the area SDM is responsible for checking illegal construction in that area. The Congress is busy passing the buck." The BJP-ruled East Delhi Corporation endorsed his view. "The SDM of the area should resign immediately," said Mehak Singh, chairman of the corporation's Standing Committee.