New Delhi, 03 June (H.S.): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the government over the deadly hotel fire in Delhi's Malviya Nagar area. The party demanded an impartial investigation, strict action against those responsible, and adequate compensation for the victims and their families.

Senior AAP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Legislative Assembly, Atishi, criticized the government through a post on social media platform X. She said the news of around 20 people losing their lives in the Malviya Nagar fire was deeply distressing. Expressing her condolences to the bereaved families, she prayed that they find strength and courage during this difficult time. She also wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the incident.

Questioning the government, Atishi asked who would take responsibility for the repeated fire accidents in Delhi and the loss of innocent lives. She further questioned why the city's fire safety system had deteriorated to such an alarming extent.

She stated that after every tragedy, only statements are issued, while accountability remains absent. According to her, such negligence at the cost of human lives can no longer be accepted.

AAP's Delhi unit president, Saurabh Bharadwaj, also expressed anger over the incident. Referring to a fire in Palam in February in which nine people were burned to death, he said the government had ordered an inquiry, but even after three months the investigation report had not been made public. He added that during the Vivek Vihar fire incident, fire brigade vehicles reportedly lacked adequate water supply, and now another 20 to 21 people had died in the Malviya Nagar blaze.

Criticizing the government further, Bharadwaj said many of those staying in such hotels and accommodations were people who had come from outside Delhi under difficult circumstances, often for medical treatment of family members. Instead of addressing systemic failures, the government was unfairly blaming the victims, he alleged.

He said the government must fix accountability in the matter and take strict action against the officials responsible so that similar tragedies can be prevented in the future.

AAP spokesperson and Burari MLA Sanjeev Jha also expressed concern over the fire. He noted that after every such accident, the Delhi government claims that fire audits will be conducted, safety standards reviewed, and deficiencies rectified. However, he questioned why such incidents continue to occur if these audits and corrective measures are genuinely being implemented.

Jha said serious questions arise regarding the functioning and monitoring mechanisms of the fire department. He asked whether safety regulations exist only on paper, whether accountability of responsible officials is being fixed, and why the government continues to issue the same statements after every tragedy instead of ensuring permanent solutions.

Leader of the Opposition in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Ankush Narang, described the incident as not merely an accident but the result of governmental negligence and corruption.

He questioned how such a massive tragedy could occur if fire safety regulations were being properly enforced. Narang demanded answers from the government regarding whether the establishment possessed a valid fire No Objection Certificate (NOC), whether the basement was being used in accordance with regulations, and when the last fire safety audit had been conducted.

He also called for strict action against those responsible and adequate compensation for the victims and their families.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar