Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal believes that the state’s lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be held accountable for the rising cases of dengue and chikungunya in the national capital. Until now, the rapidly spreading chikungunya has claimed 4 lives.
The vector-borne diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and malaria have been on a violent rise this season. While dengue has affected 1,100 people, chikungunya is closely following with more than 1,000 victims, and malaria has taken 15 people in its grip.
But, apart from announcing any significant measures to tackle this deadly menace which is affecting an increasing number of lives every day, it seems Delhi has stuck in a political battle once again.
Mr. Arvind Kejriwal directly blamed the LG Najeeb Jung and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he was powerless in the state. LG Jung is currently on leave.
Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain asked that if the situation was turning so bad, why are two MCD mayors out of Delhi?
Aam Aadmi Party has been maintaining that it is the job of the municipal corporation to keep mosquitoes at bay by fogging and ensuring cleanliness, and there was nothing they could do about it. The MCD does not come under the control of the AAP.
The flinching stance of AAP comes after a Delhi court ruling that LG Jung is the boss of the capital even if Arvind Kejriwal is the chief minister. The Supreme Court of India has refused to stay order on the lower court’s verdict.
Amid this political battle, it seems that the Delhiites will be the real sufferers as there are no relief measures in sight. Even in government hospitals, the number of beds available for patients is a paltry 3 per 1000. World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the bed-to-patient ratio is at least 5/1000.
