Political Ping Pong, and Delhi Suffers

NEW DELHI: Delhi is caught in the midst of a hard, bitter political battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Aam Aadmi Party to a point where it has become no man’s land with jurisdiction becoming a subject of political interplay.

As a result the city is hit hard with a mosquito related disease epidemic, with almost every home by the dreaded Dengue and Chikangunya. There has been no effort this year to fumigate the national capital of India, with mosquitos now being virtually nurtured by the political parties that are pointing fingers of blame, but doing nothing to check the menace.

Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung is abroad. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is undergoing a throat surgery. No one has claimed responsobility for action, despite that the ongoing battle between the two is based on each one’s claim to control and govern Delhi.

In one month four persons have died of Chikanganyu and at least 10 of dengue. Malaria is rampant as well with the hospitals overflowing with patients suffering actutely from debilitating fevers.

Kejriwal, judging from his response, seems to be on his way to conceding defeat over the fight for jurisdiction that has been claimed by the central government through the Lt Governor. In a tweet the Delhi CM responded to the demands for action with “ CM n min left wid no power now, even tp buy a pen. LG n PM enjoy all powers wrt Del. Question them for Del.”

Lt Governor Jung, acting on the central government’s behest, has been challenging orders issued by the Delhi government. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi that is currently dominated by the BJP is responsible for the fumigation and sanitation of the capital, that has not been done. However AAP and Congress parties are also now represented in the MCD and there has been little by way of statements or demands from either to pressure the local body into immediate action.

Garbage clearance had also become a political issue not so long ago, with the refuse piling up because of a similar fight between the two sides. Initially in what was projected as joint action CM Kejriwal was on radio urging Delhi-ites to take photographs of garbage dumps and send them in, assuring them of immediate coordinated response. This did not last long, and garbage clearance continues to remain a problem in Delhi with the MCD remaining negligent on this front.

The CM started mohalla clinics, a popular move intended to provide immediate, free, basic medial care. The AAP government has opened 100 such clinics and plans to expand the number to a 1000 by the end of the year. The BJP has attacked these, with lawmakers questioning the quality of diagnosis available at these clinics.

The Delhi High Court has supported the Lt Governor on the issue of powers recently, delivering a blow to Kejriwal’s efforts to seek more executive powers and space to govern the National Capital region. However, in the process Delhi without statehood, is now without an effective government despite housing two.