Delhi building collapse: Many BJP leaders own properties in Satya Niketan, alleges AAP
New Delhi, Sep 7 (PTI) A day after the five-storey building housing a boys' PG collapsed in Satya Niketan near Delhi University's South Campus, killing seven people, the Aam Aadmi Party said on Monday that several BJP leaders own properties in the area, which explains the lack of past action.
The decades-old building in South Delhi collapsed around 1.30 pm on Sunday while repair work was underway. So far, 12 people have been pulled out of the debris. The exact number of people trapped under the debris is not known.
AAP Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that several BJP leaders own PG properties, which explains the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD's) inaction in the area.
"Since Sunday, people are saying on social media that BJP leaders own properties; there is a loot happening in the name of the PG, the MCD is not acting, the reason is, many big leaders have properties here. Our demand to Rekha Gupta is to make public the names of people having properties here; there is a 'PG mafia', 'PG syndicate' running here," Bharadwaj told reporters.
The AAP leader said Chief Minister Rekha Gupta should not just visit the incident spot to make 'reels' and questioned the 'slow pace' of the rescue operation.
"We have seen chief minister visiting the spot with her entourage, which slowed down the rescue operation, and we have seen that the operation has slowed down since last night. What is the intention behind it? Is it to delay information about the number of deaths?" he said.
Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia hit at the Centre, questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Paris.
"Students in Delhi are losing their lives under the rubble of a hostel, and the country's Prime Minister is busy celebrating the inauguration of a temple in Paris. Has there ever been a more insensitive leader in this country?" Sisodia said in a post on X in Hindi.
Multiple agencies, including the Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service, National Disaster Response Force and Delhi Disaster Management Authority, carried out rescue operations through the night. The operation continued during the day.
Chief Minister Gupta reached the spot on the second day to oversee the search and rescue operations along with Delhi government and MCD officials. Gupta said nearly 80 per cent of the debris had been removed from the site, and rescuers were clearing rubble from the basement.
She ordered the sealing of all buildings in the city which have five floors.
Following the incident, the MCD suspended South Zone Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kumar and four engineers pending disciplinary proceedings.
The Delhi Police arrested the owner of the building from Rajasthan's Bhiwadi area on Monday.
