New Delhi: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain today accused Lt Governor Najeeb Jung of “paralysing” the city’s health system to deal with vector-borne diseases, at a time when the national capital is grappling with rising cases of chikungunya and dengue which have claimed eight lives this season.
Chikungunya is taking its toll in Delhi, with at least four deaths due to the vector-borne disease reported in the last two days even as its cases in the city have mounted to over 1,000, triggering blame game among the AAP dispensation, the BJP-ruled three civic bodies and the Centre.
“We had made all the preparations to deal with any outbreak situation four-five months ago, but the Delhi government-appointed Health Secretary was suddenly transferred by the LG.
“And, the new Health Secretary appointed by Jung has been given a 15-day leave at a time when dengue and chikungunya are on the rise. Our health system has been paralysed,” Jain told reporters here.
Slamming all three the BJP-led municipal corporations, the Delhi Health Minister said that civic bodies are responsible for fogging in Delhi to keep mosquitoes away and they have “failed” in their duty.
Alleging that Delhi government officers were not following the instructions, Jain said, “Officers say that Lt Governor will complain against them to the Centre if they follow Delhi government’s instructions. LG is terrorising officers and threatening them of sending to jail.”
The Minister also blamed media for creating panic among the people about chikungunya and dengue, saying it is “media creation”.
“Media has been given the contract (supari) to create panic. Medically, there is no death due to Chikungunya, but media is showing death due to this disease. I want to make it clear that Chikungunya is not fatal. There are 200 deaths in Delhi every day, but nobody asks about it,” he told a press conference.
–PTI