GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 2nd August. Delhi minister Atishi on Friday directed the Revenue Department to initiate a magisterial inquiry into the deaths of 14 inmates at the Asha Kiran shelter home in northwest Delhi’s Rohini, with a report due within 48 hours.
Asha Kiran, a government-run facility for the mentally challenged, falls under the Social Welfare Department, which is currently headless following the resignation of Raaj Kumar Anand. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, currently lodged in Tihar jail, has not assigned the department to any minister.
Atishi took cognizance of news reports on the deaths since January, reportedly due to health issues and malnutrition, indicating inadequate facilities for inmates. “It is very shocking to hear such bad news in the capital city of Delhi, and we cannot tolerate such kind of lapses if found true. This is a very serious issue and needs to be thoroughly investigated in order to take hard steps to revamp the whole system to improve the conditions of all such homes to provide better facilities to the inmates,” she said.
She instructed the additional chief secretary revenue to immediately launch a magisterial inquiry and submit findings within 48 hours. “Recommend action to be taken against those whose negligence has caused these deaths. Recommend suggestive measures to be taken to prevent occurrence of such incidents in future,” stated the minister’s note.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced that its MP from northwest Delhi, Yogendra Chandoliya, will raise the issue in the Lok Sabha, and party leaders will visit the shelter home. All India BJP Mahila Morcha vice president Rekha Gupta, BJP MLA from Rohini Vijender Gupta, and the party’s North West district president Satyanarain Gautam attempted to enter the shelter home but were denied entry, prompting a protest.
Earlier, Delhi cabinet minister Gopal Rai criticized the BJP over their visit. “BJP is reaching Asha Kiran to protest. They did not protest over the deaths of a mother-son who drowned in a waterlogged drain, since that matter comes under DDA. They ran away from there. I want to say that this dual model of politics has to stop,” Rai said.
“The concerned minister is monitoring it. Whoever will be guilty will not be spared. Whatever power we have, we will take action. We are standing with the people of Delhi, whether the issue is related to MCD or DDA,” he added.
The recent tragic deaths included Tanuja, 22, and her three-year-old son Priyansh, who drowned in a waterlogged drain during Wednesday evening’s downpour in east Delhi’s Ghazipur area.
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