Delhi BJP President Demands AAP Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj's Resignation Over Waterlogging Issues

New Delhi: Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Virendra Sachdeva has blamed AAP ministers Saurabh Bhardwaj and Satyendar Jain for the severe waterlogging issues in the city during the monsoon season. 

Sachdeva has also demanded Bhardwaj’s resignation, stating that he has "no moral right to remain a minister" in Delhi after the waterlogging disaster.

Delhi has been grappling with widespread waterlogging, affecting both upscale neighborhoods and areas around Delhi University’s North Campus. The heavy rains have caused severe disruptions, making daily commuting a challenge across the city.

'Corruption of Former Water Ministers Main Reason Behind Delhi's Waterlogging'

Sachdeva pointed to the alleged corruption of the former water ministers, Saurabh Bhardwaj and Satyendar Jain, as the primary cause of the current waterlogging crisis. He accused them of prioritising personnel financial gain over the city's well-being, he said, "The corruption of the Delhi government's former water ministers, Saurabh Bhardwaj and Satyendar Jain, and their desire to extract financial benefits from every departmental work, is the main reason for the waterlogging problem that Delhi is currently facing."

Sachdeva also highlighted how the entire city, from Kirari and Sangam Vihar to Burari, is struggling with persistent waterlogging. Even traditionally posh areas like Rohini, Rajendra Nagar, Patel Nagar, and Kamla Nagar have been severely affected. He added that near the Old Delhi Railway Station, a sewer barrel collapsed, yet the water board officials failed to take prompt action for repairs or cleaning.

He also criticised the current water minister Atishi Marlena for ‘playing blame game’ instead of doing actual work, Sachdeva said, "Minister Atishi has been busy blaming officials instead of taking action. She accused everyone, from the Lieutenant Governor to the Chief Secretary and the Water Board's executive engineers, of not working at the behest of the BJP leaders."

Sachdeva further explained that the Delhi BJP has been consistently exposing the failures of the Kejriwal government through protests against waterlogging. He claimed that due to mounting public pressure, Atishi eventually consulted with officials to understand the situation.

He revealed that the Chief Secretary and Water Board officials informed Minister Atishi that on June 5, 2020, Satyendar Jain, and on July 21, 2023, Saurabh Bhardwaj, issued orders preventing any official from issuing work orders, even for as little as 100 rupees, without the approval of the Water Board Chairman, the departmental minister. "This led to a complete breakdown in the maintenance services of the Water Board for the past year," Sachdeva said.

He added, "After the Chief Secretary exposed the orders of the then Water Board ministers, Saurabh Bhardwaj and Satyendar Jain, who encouraged corruption, a humiliated Atishi had to annul their orders on August 22, 2024."

No Maintenance Work Without AAP Minister's Approval 

Sachdeva emphasized that this annulment indicates that Minister Atishi now recognizes that Saurabh Bhardwaj and Satyendar Jain’s corruption is responsible for the waterlogging disaster in Delhi, which has resulted in nearly 35 deaths. He further mentioned, "Before July 2023, officers in various positions were authorized to carry out maintenance work up to certain amounts according to their capacity; however, for personal gain, Saurabh Bhardwaj, while serving as the Water Minister, issued an order on July 21, 2023, mandating that no officer could issue a single rupee work order without his approval."

"As a result of this order, no departmental maintenance work was carried out this year, leading to Delhi being submerged in waterlogging," Sachdeva added.

Sachdeva demanded that Saurabh Bhardwaj resign from his ministerial position, stating that after the annulment of his orders by Minister Atishi on August 22, he no longer has the moral right to remain in office, especially given his role in the ongoing waterlogging crisis.

(Inputs from ANI)