Delhi BJP flays AAP govt over 'failure' to check dengue spread

New Delhi, Sep 14: Delhi BJP today attacked the AAP government and its health minister for "complete failure" in checking the spread of dengue and providing proper medical facilities to the increasing number of patients of the vector-borne disease in the city.

"Dengue has been spreading in the city and there is danger of it taking epidemic form but the Delhi government has completely failed in taking preventive steps to control the disease and provide adequate medical facilities to the patients," said Satish Upadhyay, president of Delhi BJP.

Citing reports about lack of beds for dengue patients at Delhi hospitals, Upadhyay said buildings of two big hospitals were ready but the government had taken "no interest" in starting them.

"In Janakpuri and Tahirpur, two hospitals of 1,000-bed capacity were ready but in its 7 months in power, Delhi government took no interest in starting them," he said.

"Not only this, over 150 ambulances were rusting without any use while the scheme of Mohalla Clinic launched by AAP government was limited to just one clinic opened so far. All these pointed to the government's and Health Minister's inability to take seriously the health issues including dengue," he added.

BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta too attacked the government and Health Minister Satyendar Jain for "failing" to control dengue.

"The AAP government announced 1.5 times more budget for health but the health services in Delhi have worsened further. The government and administration seem to have no control over hospitals regarding dengue. While private hospitals have not been properly directed by the government for effective control of dengue, its own arrangements have completely failed to meet the challenge," Gupta said.

Addressing a joint press conference at the party office here, both Upadhyay and Gupta also attacked Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for maintaining "silence" over an FIR lodged against former Law Minister Somnath Bharti by the police on the complaint of his wife.

"The silence of Chief Minister over the issue and his failure to provide justice to Somnath Bharti's wife exposes his insensitivity towards women," Upadhaya said.

Further, he informed that BJP has directed all the three mayors of MCDs belonging to the party to launch a special sanitation campaign for controlling dengue spread.

A special blood donation camp will also be organised on September 24, in view of paucity of blood platelets needed to treat dengue patients, he added.

PTI