AAP, BJP spar over flooding, Cong attacks Delhi govt too
Sharing videos of waterlogging on social media platforms, AAP functionaries claimed that the city completely "collapsed" within five months of BJP forming the govt. "Despite tall claims and promises of proper management by CM Rekha Gupta and PWD minister Parvesh Verma, even a brief spell of rain on Tuesday morning was enough to bring the national capital to a standstill," the party alleged. "Waterlogging inundated not just the inner streets but also the city's most posh localities, exposing once again the complete failure of BJP's so-called 'four-engine' govt to deliver even basic civic infrastructure.
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AAP claimed that within days of lieutenant governor VK Saxena and Public Works Department minister Verma publicly congratulating each other for their "so-called efforts" to prevent waterlogging at ITO, the stretch was submerged once again on Tuesday. "This is ITO. On July 9, LG and PWD minister came here to inspect anti-waterlogging work and patted each other's back. Now that it's flooded again, please accept my congratulations too," Delhi AAP convener Saurabh Bharadwaj posted on X.
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He also posted videos of waterlogged roads in Connaught Place, Tibetan Market on Janpath Road, and near RML Hospital. Sharing CP's video, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal posted on X, "When this is the condition of Connaught Place, the heart of Delhi, it's not hard to imagine the state of the rest of Delhi. Just 10 minutes of rain and the roads have turned into ponds. In five months, where has BJP brought Delhi to? Is this the speed of the 'four-engine' govt?"
Leader of the opposition in Delhi Assembly Atishi said even Civil Lines— home to both LG and CM—was waterlogged.
She also posted videos of waterlogging in several parts of the city, including Panchkuian Road, Kamla Nagar Market, Sadar Bazar, Ambedkar Stadium near Delhi Gate, and Pragati Maidan.
Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said heavy rainfall continued across Delhi for over three hours, leading to waterlogging in some areas. "Due to the efforts of Delhi govt and MCD, the situation was brought under control within just a few hours," he said.
Sachdeva claimed timely cleaning of major drains and sewers on key roads resulted in "significant improvement", unlike the situation in 2024 and earlier years, when even a light rain would flood roads for days. "The residents of Delhi felt the difference brought by the change in govt. The chief minister, the ministers, the mayor, BJP MLAs and councillors, and the NDMC vice-chairperson, stepped onto the streets and ensured that waterlogging was cleared within hours of the rain," he claimed.
Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav slammed BJP govt for the "lack of preparedness" to tackle the monsoon chaos. "Despite giving extended deadlines, PWD failed to complete the desilting work," he alleged.
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