"Double the capacity of people are kept in Asha Kiran Shelter Home": Congress targets AAP

New Delhi [India], August 2 : Launching scathing attacks on Delhi Government over deaths in Asha Kiran Shelter Home, Congress leader Abhishek Dutt said on Friday that people are kept double the capacity of the place and Arvind Kejriwal used to talk about the health model, all the government hospitals are only for publicity.
"This is a very sad incident. It is sad to see that on one side in a shelter home, double the capacity people are kept there and on the other side Arvind Kejriwal is living in his 170 cr 'sheesh mahal'. He used to talk about the health model. He should be immediately removed from his post. No action is being taken against the corrupt ministers and, sadly, no one is resigning. The government hospitals here are only for publicity. People remember Delhi built by Sheila Dikshit," Dutt said.
Voicing concern over the death of the inmates at Asha Kiran shelter home, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said that the Aam Aadmi Party has brought Delhi to a very bad situation.
"It is difficult to breathe in Delhi. It is difficult to read the news. Mentally challenged people are kept in Asha Kiran. Information has been received that children are not given proper food there; if children fall ill, they are not given treatment. The Aam Aadmi Party has no moral right to stay in its position. Such news comes every day... Where does Aam Aadmi Party do what it says? The Aam Aadmi Party government has brought Delhi to a very sad situation. To save Delhi, it is very important to remove such people from the post," he said.
Most number of deaths (14) have been recorded in the month of July in Asha Kiran Shelter Home being run in Delhi's Rohini area, an official report said.
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.
The report from Asha Kiran Shelter Home to the Delhi Government mentioned loose motion and unconsciousness as being the reason 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 14 one is a child. This is a serious matter and to investigate this a magisterial enquiry has been ordered. The preliminary report will be submitted within 24 hrs. 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.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has desired that a comprehensive inquiry on the state of affairs of all Shelter Homes being run by the GNCTD, including into the deaths at Asha Kiran Home, is undertaken and a report, inter alia, fixing responsibility is presented within one week. Action be initiated against the administrator of the facility immediately. LG has also desired that the parents/guardians of the individuals, whose death has taken place are contacted and compensated suitably.
National Commission for Women (NCW) chief Rekha Sharma arrived at Asha Kiran after several deaths were reported here.
"Shelters run by the Delhi government have become a death trap for innocent people. Asha Kiran, which has a capacity of 250, has 450 people living in it without proper food, water and medicine. Atishi (Delhi Minister) should be made responsible for contaminated water they are been provided," the NCW Chief said.
"Most of the women who died in Asha Kiran Shelter home run by the Delhi government were under 40 years. Young lives are lost because of the sheer negligence of the Delhi Government. Who is responsible for these deaths @AtishiAAP?" she added.
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo said that he will issue a notice to the Delhi Government to send him the postmortem report and other details to find out the cause of death.
"We have come to know about this. I have spoken with the officers concerned in Delhi Government's Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare Department. I have collected details from them. They have confirmed the death of one minor, over telephone. We are issuing notice to Delhi Government, to make available to us the postmortem report, medical reports and other details to find out the cause of death. We will take further steps based on the response we get in connection with the notice," Kanoongo said.
"NCPCR has made a portal, a monitoring app and we have given its access to the Delhi Government. They are requested to upload reports of inspection of Children's Homes in Delhi on the same. Unfortunately, Delhi Government is indifferent regarding the inspection of Children's Homes. They don't do inspection. If they don't do it, there will be irregularities and such incidents will keep happening," he added.