Delhi fire: Kejriwal, Tiwari rush to announce damages

Delhi woke up to a blaze on Sunday in an industrial unit, located in a residential area flouting all norms, which killed as many as 43 and injured dozens.

As political leaders rushed to announce competitive compensation packages, it didn't take longer for politics to take over and blame game to begin.

Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Manoj Tiwari took to Twitter to question Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's decision to go ahead with "Badhai Timarpur" (Congratulations Timarpur) event.

"While, on one side, entire Delhi is sad, 43 families are devastated, many people are injured...Delhi's chief minister is participating in the 'Badhaai Timarpur' event. Kejriwal ji, how can you be so insensitive," Tiwari tweeted.

Countering Tiwari, Sanjay Singh of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused the BJP of playing politics. It blamed the BJP-run Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for allowing the factory to run from a residential area.

When Tiwari subtly blamed the state government for the "dangling electric wires", the AAP claimed the BJP was politicising the unfortunate deaths.

Kejriwal, after visiting the site at Anaj Mani and later LNJP Hospital where the fire victims were admitted, tweeted: "We have lost more than 40 innocent lives to the tragic fire. I've ordered a magisterial inquiry. No culprit will be spared."

Soon, the Delhi government announced Rs 10 lakh assistance to families who had lost someone to the tragedy and Rs 1 Lakh for the injured.

The Delhi BJP announced to provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the family of the deceased and Rs 25,000 to the injured.

In the presence of Union Minister Hardeep Puri, Tiwari said, "This is a sad incident and the BJP stands with the families of the victims in this hour of grief."IANS