Kejriwal government blames LG, MCD for chikungunya

New Delhi, Sep 13: The Delhi government on Tuesday blamed Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung and BJP-controlled municipal bodies for the spread of chikungunya in the capital.

Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra demanded to know why no fogging had been done this year by the three wings of municipal corporation.

"Where is LG who has proclaimed himself as government, three mayors, seven MPs, 272 councillors now? All are busy protesting," he tweeted.

The reference was to a Delhi High Court decision of August 4 which ruled that the Lt Governor would be in-charge of administrative affairs in Delhi and not the elected government.

All the Mayors and MPs in Delhi are also from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Delhi's Health Minister Satyendar Jain accused the BJP-controlled civic bodies of not taking preventive steps to control the spread of vector-borne disease.

Jain said the Delhi government hospitals were "fully capable" and well equipped to treat the patients.

The minister's remark came after a 65-year-old R. Pandey succumbed to chikungunya on Monday at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

Jain, who is now in Goa, said: "We are taking every necessary step and proper care from our (Delhi government's) side."

"It is the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) that has to take preventive steps like fogging and sanitation in the city to check the spread of dengue and chikungunya.

"The three civic bodies are not performing their duties properly to keep Delhi clean," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said.

Jain added that the patient who died of chikungunya was from Uttar Pradesh.

"Lots of patients arrive in the national capital in critical condition. I am going back to Delhi today (Tuesday) to take stock of the situation," he said.

Mishra, meanwhile, appealed to the people of Delhi not to panic and warned private hospitals not to deny treatment to patients.

"All private hospitals and nursing homes need to ensure that they are not denying treatment and not creating panic. Any violation will invite strict action."

Mishra wanted to know what happened to all the money that was released to the MCD.

IANS