AAP Criticizes Delhi Government Over Fire Safety Failures

Saurabh Bhardwaj's Strong Critique

On June 3, Saurabh Bhardwaj, the Delhi president of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), expressed his discontent with the state government regarding the frequent fire incidents in the capital. He highlighted the tragic loss of 21 lives in a recent fire in Malviya Nagar, attributing the blame to failures in fire response and accountability.

Bhardwaj pointed out that such incidents have become a regular occurrence without any accountability. He recalled a fire in Palam in February, where nine individuals, including three girls, lost their lives due to the fire department's inaction and malfunctioning equipment. Despite the government's promise to investigate, three months have passed without any report.

He further mentioned another fire incident in Vivek Vihar, where firefighters arrived without adequate water supply, resulting in nine fatalities. Now, with 21 lives lost in Malviya Nagar, he questioned the lack of accountability.

Accusing officials of delayed responses, Bhardwaj stated that the fire service takes between 45 minutes to an hour and a half to respond. He criticized the government for blaming residents instead of taking responsibility, particularly targeting the vulnerable populations living in small homes and hotels.

Bhardwaj demanded accountability from the authorities, insisting that the government should acknowledge its shortcomings. He urged that the fire department's tardiness should be admitted, rather than shifting blame onto the impoverished communities. He also challenged the government’s integrity, questioning the timeline for the investigation reports from the previous incidents.