Coaching institute deaths: BJP's Poonawalla calls it "murder by AAP"; NSUI chief says administration's failure
Jul 28, 2024
New Delhi [India], July 28 : The recent tragic incident in Old Rajinder Nagar, Delhi, where three students lost their lives due to flooding in a basement coaching institute, has ignited a political blame game among various parties.
The incident, which occurred amidst heavy rains, claimed the lives of Shreya Yadav, Tanya Soni, and Nivin Dalwin, all aspiring UPSC candidates. The basement of Rau's IAS Study Circle, where the students were studying, became inundated, leading to their tragic demise. The news of their deaths spread quickly, prompting widespread grief and outrage.
Political leaders reacted to the incident, pointing fingers at the respective administrative bodies responsible for maintaining safety standards and addressing civic issues in Delhi.
Varun Choudhary, National President of NSUI, said that the incident is a failure of administration.
"This is a very sad incident in which three students have died...I would say this is the murder of the students because of the administration. Earlier also complaints were lodged regarding this building...Everyone was aware that it was a monsoon session still the cleaning work was not done... This is not the first incident in Rajinder Nagar, earlier also several incidents have taken place here in which students have faced problems...Every time the Central government and the Delhi government ignore the problems of the students," Choudhary said.
Devender Yadav, Delhi Congress President, while refraining from politicizing the issue outright, criticized the Delhi government's inefficiency in managing the waterlogging.
"...I do not want to politicise this whole issue but at the same time we have to see that today the (Delhi) government is proving to be a complete failure. It is not able to provide water, waterlogging is happening... Who permitted to run the institute in the basement? We should pay attention to this. Kejriwal ji continuously writes letters to maintain his position, but now we should also see the condition of Delhi today...His ministers are not able to do anything today. The situation is that the minister, who should have reached the spot immediately, has not reached there," Yadav said.
Mayor Shelly Oberoi of Delhi echoed concerns about the violation of building bylaws, directing the MCD Commissioner to take strict action against coaching centers operating illegally in basements. She stressed the need for an immediate inquiry to determine any culpability within the MCD,
"...It is sad that 3 children have died. I have written to the MCD Commissioner that strict action should be taken against all such coaching centres across Delhi which are under the jurisdiction of MCD and are running commercial activities in the basement which are violating the building bylaws and are not as per the norms. The completion certification of this building in Rajinder Nagar was given in 2021 and it is clearly written that the basement will be used only for parking and storage... We should not play the blame game and take action against those responsible," Shelly Oberoi said while speaking to ANI.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla hit out at the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government,
"It is not just an accident, it is a murder committed by the Aam Aadmi Party. It is criminal negligence. The question is who will take the responsibility. There have been several deaths. Do the lives of the people of Delhi hold no value?" Poonawalla asked in a self-made video.
"Arvind Kejriwal and his government's priority is press conferences, advertisements and blame games.AAP is responsible for this. AAP's priority is to save Kejriwal from the liquor scam but they don't care about the lives of the residents of Delhi," the BJP leader said.
The tragedy sparked public outcry, with students and local residents staging protests in Old Rajinder Nagar demanding justice for the deceased students.
Meanwhile, the Delhi police on Sunday arrested two persons, the owner and coordinator of the IAS coaching centre, where basement flooding due to rains claimed lives of three students in Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar.
