Congress holds AAP government responsible for rise in Dengue cases

NEW DELHI: The Congress today blamed AAP-led Delhi Government and BJP-headed civic bodies for water-logging and rising dengue cases in the National capital saying "utter lack of preparedness" of the agencies has caused woes to citizens.

"Dengue could have been tackled easily had the AAP Government spent even one tenth of the amount earmarked for its publicity for taking preventive steps against the disease."

"AAP-BJP ego clash has caused administrative paralysis and untold suffering of people," Congress' Delhi unit chief spokesperson Sharmistha Mukherjee told reporters.

Taking jibe at the AAP Government, Congress said the ruling party has "no guilt" in earmarking Rs 526 crore for self-publicity at a time when it has no plan to tackle perennial monsoon problems. This, she said, has resulted in 158 dengue cases.

Comparing AAP Government with the previous led by Congress, Mukherjee said the Sheila Dixit dispensation had taken effective steps to bring down number of dengue cases after epidemic situation was witnessed in 2010 in the city.

Mukherjee expressed need for dengue awareness campaign, proper arrangement for patients at Government dispensaries and allocation of additional beds with separate enclosure for treating patients.

Party councillor Abhishek Dutt, who accompanied Mukherjee during the conference, accused the AAP government of washing its hands off in the running of already existing primary health centres after the ruling party inaugurated Aam Aadmi Clinic near Peera Garhi Relief Camp recently.