‘Why don’t you resign?’ BJP slams Kejriwal over mosquito-borne diseases in Delhi

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for “failing” to address Delhi’s public health challenge and demanded his immediate resignation in the wake of three chikungunya deaths in the national capital.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday for “failing” to address Delhi’s public health challenge and demanded his resignation in the wake of five chikungunya deaths in the national capital.

BJP slammed Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for failing to address city’s public health challenge. (HT File Photo)

Taking on the AAP government, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said at a time when Delhi was reeling due to the spread of vector-borne diseases, CM Kejriwal was busy blaming the Prime Minister and lieutenant governor over the deaths.

Four more chikungunya deaths were reported on Tuesday at a city hospital, taking to five the number of fatalities due to the vector-borne disease in Delhi where the number of cases have mounted to over 1,000 this season.

Patra accused Kejriwal of continuing to enjoy all benefits as chief minister while completely ignoring people’s questions on the chikungunya, dengue and malaria crisis, accusing him and his ministers of campaigning in the country and travelling abroad on public money.

“It is a very sorry state of affairs that Arvind Kejriwal who is the chief minister of Delhi refuses to answer pertinent question regarding the health of the capital of this country. Delhi is reeling under vector-borne diseases -- chikungunya, dengue and malaria. Kejriwal government is missing....

Patra said when some questions are being put in front of Kejriwal, he not only shuns these questions but he gives out a statement on Twitter, saying that “don’t question me, question the Prime Minister”.

“You are not resigning, but you are not answering the question that though you are saying that you cannot spent Rs 10 but you have spent Rs one crore on samosas and tea.

“You are spending Rs 526 crore for your advertisements. Most of your ministers are either on foreign destinations or destinations other than Delhi today. Whose money is it that they are spending? You have to answer these pertinent questions,” he said.

The BJP leader said he has been elected by the people of Delhi for governance and “you cannot run away, you cannot shun your duty”.

Kejriwal earlier tweeted: “CM and ministers left with no power now, even to buy a pen. LG and PM enjoy all powers with respect to delhi. LG abroad. Question them for Delhi.”

Govt blames media

Faced with accusations of being negligent, Delhi health minister Satyendra Jain said: “This is media-created panic. Please don’t spread panic. Prove it medically (death due to Chikungunya). Medically Chikungunya can never b cause of anyone’s death.”