The Aam Aadmi Party MLAs and Councillors on Monday staged a protest outside the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat demanding that the MCD Commissioner be sacked who failed to issue directions for desilting of drains.
A large number of AAP MLAs and councillors participated in the protest with their supporters and shouted slogans against the LG. Protesting MLAs and Councillors of the Aam Aadmi Party carrying placards demanded immediate suspension of the MCD commissioner and action against the officers who did not get the drains desilted.
The protest was held following the death of three civil services aspirants due to the flooding of the basement of a coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar caused by rain on Saturday.
Talking to the media, MLA Dilip Pandey said after the Supreme Court verdict, the BJP-led Union Government brought a bill that gives power of appointment, transfer and posting of officials working under Delhi government to the Lieutenant Governor (LG). As a result, the minister concerned Saurabh Bharadwaj instructed the Chief Secretary and the officials in the meetings to ensure desilting of drains five times from February 2024 to June 2024. “But the officials working under LG did not move. As a result, the Rajinder Nagar mishap took place,” he said.
The Supreme Court on May 11, 2023 ruled that the legislature has control over bureaucrats in administration of services, except in public order, police and land.
Dilip Pandey said we have come here today with the demand that such accidents be stopped from taking place in future. “All these officials come under LG. The video of Saurabh Bharadwaj’s meeting has brought the truth to the fore. We have come to request the LG to take action against the incompetent officials, who are not working despite the minister’s order and do not understand the principle of accountability in democracy. And send a stern message by taking action against such officers to stop such incidents from taking place in future,” he said.
Dilip Pandey said the BJP has taken its political level to the point of playing with people’s lives, but it is avoiding legitimate questions.
On the issue of BJP protesting outside the AAP headquarters, AAP MLA and MCD in charge Durgesh Pathak said the LG tweeted yesterday that no work has been done on the drainage of Delhi for the last one decade. “We have taken over the MCD just eight months back. Who is responsible for what has not been done for the last 15 years? Why is the BJP protesting? They should be ashamed of ruining the entire Delhi.
Durgesh Pathak said we demand that stern action be taken against the senior level officials. “You must have heard minister Saurabh Bharadwaj’s video yesterday. He is telling the secretary that you have not got desilting done, your report is incorrect. There is no action,” he said.
The MCD in charge demanded responsibility to be fixed. “The responsibility goes up to the level of MCD Commissioner. If lower-rung officials did not get drains cleaned, did the MCD commissioner hold any review meeting on this? Did he cross checked the report?,” said Durgesh Pathak.
In reply to New Delhi MP Bansuri Swaraj demanding his resignation, Durgesh Pathak said, “Bansuri Swaraj must also tell what her party’s Members of Parliament do in the last 11 years. It is very easy to blame others. I have been the MLA for the last one and half years. She will have to answer that why did her party not ensure proper drainage all these years.”