Arvind Kejriwal has called for immediate polls in Gujarat
Targeting the BJP government in Gujarat over the Morbi bridge tragedy that killed 134, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal today said Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel should "resign immediately" and Assembly polls should be held in the state.
Mr Kejriwal, whose party is pushing hard to emerge as a key player in Gujarat's political landscape in the run-up to the state polls later this year, alleged that the bridge tragedy was a result of corruption and referred to reports on how a company that makes clocks was given the charge of renovating the suspension bridge.
"Why was a company that makes clocks given the tender of a bridge? This means he had links with the party (BJP). The FIR in the case mentions neither the company nor its owners," the Delhi Chief Minister said. He said there are allegations that the ruling party had received a huge donation from the company's owners, and said such charges need to be probed.
Referring to the clean-up exercise at Morbi civil hospital ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to meet survivors of the bridge accident, "The spruce-up at hospital is a separate matter, but the matter is being covered up. The Chief Minister has no right to continue. He must resign and elections should be held immediately," he said.
The all-night cleaning drive at the civil hospital ahead of the Prime Minister's visit drawn criticism from Opposition parties Congress and the AAP.
The Congress has termed it a "tragedy event" and said, "They have no shame, so many people have died, and they are busy in event management."
The AAP said, "Repair work is on to ensure there is nothing amiss in the Prime Minister's photoshoot tomorrow."