Delhi Mahila Congress workers demand Delhi Minister Atishi's resignation over deaths at Asha Kiran shelter home

Aug 02, 2024

Rohini (Delhi) [India], August 2 : The workers of All India Mahila Congress in Delhi started a protest against the Delhi government and demanded the resignation of Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi over the deaths at Asha Kiran shelter home on Friday.
This stand came after an official report mentioned that the shelter home has recorded the most number of deaths (14) in July. It is being run in Delhi's Rohini area.
The official report stated that a total of 25 deaths were recorded from February 2024, out of which 14 deaths occurred (male-6, female-8) in the shelter home in the month of July only.
Upon release of the report, a controversy had erupted over the deaths in the shelter home.
The General Secretary of All India Mahila Congress, Neetu Verma Soin, said that these were not deaths but murders. She further stated that 14 murders had occurred there and that 450 children had been accommodated in the shelter, which can house just 250 people.
"We are from All India Mahila Congress... We have come here to find out what happened. 14 murders occurred here. We are being told that 450 children are being accommodated here, which can house just 250 people," she said.
She further demanded an inquiry into the matters and also the resignation of officials and ministers who were behind this.
"We demand that there should be an inquiry. These are not deaths, but murders... What is the Delhi government doing? We demand the resignation of officials and ministers who are behind this. We demand justice for the children inside. They are not letting us meet them," she further stated.
The report mentioned that loose motion and unconsciousness were the reasons behind deaths. Other reasons included mild fever, loose stools and vomiting.
Reacting to the incident, Delhi Minister and AAP leader Atishi said, "Asha Kiran shelter home is being run in Delhi... Those who live here are abandoned people rescued by the police. A report is coming that 14 deaths have occurred here in July, among which one is a child. This is a serious matter and to investigate this, a magisterial inquiry has been ordered. The preliminary report will be submitted within 24 hours. If there is any negligence seen in the report by any official, strict action will be taken against them."
"I assure the people of Delhi that if any death has occurred due to any negligence, here, the person involved will not be spared. We are waiting for the postmortem report and after 24 hrs the preliminary report of the magisterial enquiry will come out, we will take action as per that," she added.