Congress trying to save guilty building owner: BJP

NEW DELHI - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday alleged that the Congress was trying to save the owner of the east Delhi building that collapsed killing 69 people.

Addressing reporters, BJP leader Yogender Chandolia, standing committee chairman of the party-ruled Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), said that “political pressure” was the main reason that kept the civic body from taking action against unauthorised constructions in the city.

“Political pressure often stops MCD officials from allowing unauthorised constructions to be checked. If politicians work with honesty, such things can be prevented.”

“I will be writing to the municipal commissioner, K.S Mehra, on the issue,” he added.

Chandolia said that if any MCD person is found guilty, action will be taken. In the same breath he said that MCD officials are not guilty and are “unfairly blamed”.

“That political pressure works is clear from the fact that the builder Amrit Singh, who was arrested in the case, named Delhi Finance Minister A.K Walia. The area MP, MLA and councillor are all from the Congress,” he said.

Chandolia also alleged the Congress-led Delhi government was trying to save the guilty by ordering a probe that would take three months.

Municipal Commissioner K.S Mehra said the MCD received 9,568 complaints about unauthorised constructions since October 2008 and took action on around 5,000. In the same period, action was taken against 10,000 ongoing constructions, he said.