The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress on Sunday took a swipe at the Central Government over a video clip that showed water outside one of the halls at Pragati Maidan where the G20 Summit was held.
Calling the claim “exaggerated,” Press Information Bureau’s fact-checking wing said the Bharat Mandapam area had “minor water-logging” and was cleared of water-logging “within 20 minutes”.
“This claim is exaggerated and misleading. Minor water logging in open area was swiftly cleared as pumps were pressed into action after overnight rains. No water logging at venue presently,” it said.
Visuals of water-logging at Bharat Mandapam, the sprawling venue for the G20 Summit in New Delhi’s Pragati Maidan, made rounds on social media on Sunday. A video of the water-logging at the main area of Bharat Mandapam was shared on X (formerly Twitter). The staff could be seen using machines to clear out the water.
However, the Public Works Department (PWD) said there was heavy water logging but everything was smooth around the VVIP routes and locations around the G20 area, Rajghat, Akshardham, and Ring Road.
Another official said Rajghat and Ring Road witnessed light waterlogging Saturday night during the rain but it was immediately cleared using mechanical sweeping and pumps.
Delhi Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj Sunday questioned Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena after waterlogging was reported inside the sprawling Bharat Mandapam, the main venue for the G20 Summit at Pragati Maidan, following overnight rain in the national Capital.
Tagging a video showing water accumulated inside the Bharat Mandapam complex, AAP leader Bharadwaj posted on X, “Resp @LtGovDelhi saab, This is very serious. Even after ur 50+ inspections, if the very main area around Mandapam is submerged in water, then heads must roll. I as Minister of Delhi don’t have control over this Central Govt area, else would have assisted u sir.”
The Congress, too, took to X to express displeasure over the water-logging the main area of Bharat Mandapam. The party pointed out that Rs 2,700 crores were spent build Bharat Mandapam to host world leaders for the G20 Summit and called the BJP’s claims of progress as “hollow”.
Addressing a rally in Niwai in poll-bound Rajasthan’s Tonk district, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the waterlogging. “Perhaps what the people of our country are not able to say due to fear, God has said: Reduce your ego, this country has made you a leader, put it first and make the people supreme,” she said. Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala taking a swipe at the government said, “Bharat Mandapam built at a cost of Rs 3,000 crore was seen floating in slightest rain.
“I pray to God that it does not rain much during the day, and that the G20 Summit is completed safely.The Modi Government has covered the poor with a curtain, but no amount of showmanship can cover up its misdeeds.”