As malaria, dengue, and chikungunya cases surge, BJP’s so-called ‘four-engine government’ remains indifferent, said senior AAP leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in MCD House Ankush Narang. He added that the government has taken no concrete steps, while MTS workers fighting these diseases are on strike over unmet demands. “Since BJP came to power, every section is suffering—Delhi is back to protests and strikes,” he said.
Pointing to the seasonal surge in mosquito-borne illnesses, MCD House LoP Ankush Narang stated, “This is the peak time for diseases like malaria, chikungunya, and dengue. Their spread accelerates during the monsoon as mosquito populations rise sharply. Yet, the BJP is not taking any concrete measures to tackle malaria, chikungunya, or dengue.”
He continued, “They recently issued a weekly report, but when a public health crisis strikes, there must be daily updates—not weekly. During COVID-19, daily case data was published on public portals. The same should be done for malaria, chikungunya, and dengue. Daily reporting would raise public awareness, prompt vigilance, and motivate people to take their own precautions. But the BJP only sends weekly reports—and even those are inconsistent. They don’t publish or make them accessible to the public.”
Highlighting the surge in cases, Ankush Narang said, “According to the 2025 report, 112 cases of malaria have been reported so far this year, up from 97 last year and just 34 the year before. Dengue has already seen 261 cases, compared to 97 in 2023. This clearly shows that dengue, malaria, and chikungunya are rising rapidly in Delhi. Yet, the BJP has no solid plan to stop them. If daily reports were made public, people would be more alert and informed. But the BJP keeps this data away from the public.”
Criticising the mistreatment of frontline workers, he emphasised, “Under the BJP government, domestic breeding checkers (DBCs), who now work as Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS), are being discriminated against. It was the Aam Aadmi Party government that converted DBCs into MTS workers following a proposal from the Commissioner, ensuring equal pay for all. But today, MTS workers are being paid under six different pay scales. They’re on strike with three key demands: first, equal pay for all; second, employment for a family member if a worker dies; and third, provision of earned leave, medical leave, and medical benefits.”
Supporting the striking workers, Ankush Narang said, “The demands of MTS workers are justified. These are employees who have been working for 20 to 30 years—there’s nothing wrong in what they are asking for. The AAP government had ensured equal pay, but the BJP is not implementing these demands. Despite having a ‘four-engine government’, they’ve done nothing for these workers. At a time when mosquito-borne diseases are on the rise, these very workers are on strike because their demands remain unmet.”
Condemning the BJP’s indifference, Ankush Narang said, “The MTS worker is the one closest to the mosquito threat—they are the ones spraying medicine and protecting us. Yet, they are denied basic facilities. These workers tried to raise their concerns with Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh, but he didn’t even meet them. Instead, he sent a message with a clear warning—if the strike isn’t called off, the MTS workers will be dismissed. This is shameful.”
“The BJP must act immediately to curb malaria, chikungunya, and dengue. It was the Aam Aadmi Party that proposed the conversion of DBCs to MTS and created 3,200 MTS jobs. The BJP must now ensure equal income rights and full benefits for them,” he concluded.
