The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday, 15 May, alleged that there were several irregularities in the licensing of a building that caught fire in Mundka leading to deaths of at least 27 people, and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of colluding with the building's owner.
"Only the BJP is responsible for the death of all the innocent people in the Mundka fire. Building owner Manish Lakra is close to BJP MP Pravesh Verma's uncle, former MCD Mayor Azad Singh," AAP MCD incharge Durgesh Pathak said in a press conference on Sunday.
“In 2016, this factory’s owners applied for a licence for industrial activities to the MCD. The North MCD issued the factory licence, against the rules, despite being aware of the fact that it falls in the non-conforming zone where industrial activity is not allowed. But after seven-eight months people started complaining and the MCD realised the license was wrong and cancelled the license in 2017. Even after license was revoked, industrial activities continued because of BJP-led MCD's support. In 2019, a Supreme Court monitoring committee sealed the building. Even today, the building is sealed as per MCD's papers."Durgesh Pathak, AAP MCD incharge
Pathak also shared that the BJP's election campaign for Mundka was running its office from the same building for the Delhi Assembly polls in 2015.
The AAP leader demanded a probe into the matter, asking for strict legal proceedings against all those involved.
BJP Hits Back, Asks How Building Got Electricity From Govt
The BJP has retaliated to the allegations made by the AAP, questioning how the building got an electricity connection and a fire NOC from the Delhi government. Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor also asked how a government liquor shop had also been opened in the building in 2019.
"Durgesh bhai, how many lies do you tell? The truth is Mundka's building which caught fire was not sealed Nor has the Municipal Corporation given any factory license in the building. It is the job of your government to check industrial activity - Reply How did this building get Fire NOC?
The BJP also rejected claims about Lakra being associated with party leaders.
NHRC Visits Site To Probe Alleged Human Rights Violations
Meanwhile, officials from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday, 16 May, visited the building in Mundka which caught fire.
NHRC Director General Sunil Meena said that the body, which had taken suo motu cognisance of the fire, would probe alleged violations of human rights.
"It is the first day of the probe, and will progress as we get more facts," Meena said, as per ANI.
(With inputs from ANI.)
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