“Would you do anything arbitrary because of the ordinance?” Sourav Bharadwaj tweeted.
New Delhi:
Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj and Lt. Governor Binai Kumar Saxena today had an on-camera argument over flooding at Delhi’s busiest traffic junction, which had to be attended by Army and Disaster Response Force personnel. Mr Bharadwaj, Delhi’s health minister and chairman of the Delhi Jal Board, told the Centre-appointed LG that bureaucrats were not following orders even in such emergencies.
Interrupting VK Saxena during his press speech, Mr Bharadwaj, who was flanked by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, said he had last night requested the Chief Secretary to call the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to help repair the damaged drain regulator. ITO caused floods in the area but they ignored it.
“We wrote to the chief secretary on the WhatsApp group to call the NDRF, otherwise the flood waters may enter sensitive areas of Delhi. We also asked the district magistrate. But, last night, our messages were ignored,” he added, adding that the attitude will be only if the ordinance comes into effect. .
Last night there was an emergency so I was vetted at 11:09 last night in Ashwini G Co group NDRF team sent but not sent.
If the NDRF team is also given last night, then there will be no problem. pic.twitter.com/dpiRUJcZMr
— Saurabh Bharadwaj (@saurab_MLAgk) July 14, 2023
He later tweeted mentioning the divisional commissioner’s name, claiming that “repeated requests” had been ignored.
“Because some media friends are asking – if some IAS ignores their minister even in such an emergency, how will the government work? Ashwani Kumar ji is the divisional commissioner, but the NDRF was not called at night despite repeated requests. From the minister. Do you because of the ordinance? Do something arbitrarily?” He tweeted in Hindi.
Some media associates want to know – if he will listen to some IAS even in your time, then how will the government work?
Ashwani Kumar NDRF did not come even after repeated requests from the Minister of General Affairs, Magar.What is the reason for the ordinance?
— Saurabh Bharadwaj (@saurab_MLAgk) July 14, 2023
VK Saxena responded, calling for teamwork. He said, this is not the time to blame anyone.
“I want to tell you that this is not the time to blame anyone or make comments. Right now, we have to work as a team. I can say a lot, but it’s not necessary right now,” he said.
Earlier, Mr. Kejriwal, who visited the inundated area connecting major parts of Delhi, also said that the situation could have been avoided if an NDRF team had attended the spot last night itself, as his government had earlier requested the Lt. Governor. He reiterated that the army has been helped to resolve the situation.
LG said the focus should be on solving the crisis and it was not time to point fingers.
Arvind Kejriwal confirmed in a tweet earlier today that breach of drain regulator was the cause of flooding in the region, and he directed officials to fix it urgently seeking the help of army and disaster relief forces. They are now working together to solve the problem. Mr Kejriwal said it should be fixed within four hours.
The Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government and the LG have long been at each other’s throats over power-sharing in the governance of the national capital. The former accused Mr. Saxena of acting at the behest of the BJP to stall development work in Delhi, pointing to the Centre’s controversial ordinance recently that overturned a Supreme Court ruling giving the Delhi government greater control over its bureaucrats.