Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 2: A political blame game has erupted in the national capital as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the BJP-led Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) traded charges on Friday over the alarming rise in vector-borne diseases, including dengue, malaria, and chikungunya.
According to official data, Delhi has reported 277 dengue cases, 124 malaria infections, and 18 cases of chikungunya so far this monsoon season. AAP, targeting the Rekha Gupta-led BJP government, claimed that malaria cases have broken a 10-year record due to civic mismanagement.
“Malaria cases in Delhi have broken a decade-old record. This isn’t just a statistic—it reflects a complete breakdown in civic management,” said AAP leader and Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj during a press conference. Citing frequent waterlogging in Connaught Place, Sadar Bazar, and Janpath, he alleged that the MCD’s inaction has made the city a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
He further said AAP will raise the issue during the upcoming Delhi Assembly session on August 4.
Countering the allegations, Delhi Mayor Sardar Raja Iqbal Singh defended the MCD’s efforts and blamed AAP for its own lapses during its earlier tenure in the municipal body. “AAP ran the MCD for over two years. Did they eradicate mosquito breeding? No. They didn’t even release full data on dengue and malaria back then,” Singh said.
The Mayor outlined several MCD initiatives to combat mosquito breeding, including spraying at 49,718 locations, 8.2 lakh home inspections, and over 5,600 legal notices issued to violators. “We’re working on a war footing. AAP’s accusations are politically motivated and far from reality,” Singh added.
Amid the political tussle, residents are demanding real action on the ground. “We don’t care who’s in charge — we just want clean streets, timely spraying, and medical camps,” said a resident from West Delhi.
Health experts warn that if immediate preventive steps are not taken, the city could witness a further spike in cases in the coming weeks.