AAP slams MCD for issuing license

NEW DELHI: The ruling AAP on Tuesday slammed the MCD over providing a license to the Karol Bagh hotel where 17 people died in a midnight fire. However, the opposition BJP and Congress raised questions over AAP government's departments. "The said hotel had five floors with fibre structure on the top floor. How did MCD give approval to such building plan? If no approval was given, how could such hotel operate? How could they get a certificate to operate from MCD? How was fire

certificate obtained? How this building ever inspected by officials before granting certificate?" said AAP's chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj. He further added that every time there is a horrific incident in Delhi killing innocent people, we talk about negligence by some departments, we speculate about fixing the responsibility, but there is hardly any change in the situation.

"Is there any accountability? Will responsibility be ever fixed in the administrative structure of National Capital of India? Will Delhi ever

see a Commissioner of MCD or Chief of fire being suspended for such huge loss of innocent human lives?" said Bharadwaj. He added that We have a rotten system of Governance at Delhi where elected state Govt has no power to even suspend an officer for criminal negligence. "It is

only the LG who can take action against the officers, sadly he has zero accountability," he said.

Meanwhile, Delhi BJP's leader of opposition Vijender Gupta demanded a judicial inquiry into the tragedy. "Loss of 17 precious lives is a very serious matter. But Chief Minister Kejriwal is, unfortunately, taking it lightly and doing only cosmetic exercise. It is evident from the fact that reached the place of tragedy six to seven hours after the incident occurred and assured only low key enquiry."

Similarly, Delhi Pradesh Congress chief Shiela Dikshit said that the Aam Aadmi Party Government in Delhi should form a committee to probe the tragedy that how such a major fire broke out in the big hotel. Dikshit said that she had given her suggestions, and the committee to be formed should enquire into how the fire broke out, were there any lapses, why so many people died in the fire, which is very tragic and deeply hurting.