A day after Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung sent a fax to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to immediately return to India from Finland in the wake of the increase in dengue and chikungunya cases, Delhi water minister Kapil Mishra and health minister Satyendra Jain went to the LG office’s on Saturday but could not meet him as the LG was not present. 

Meanwhile, the chikungunya toll in the Capital rose to 15 with two more deaths reported from Sir Gangaram Hospital. Triggering another spat, Mishra, standing outside the LG’s office said, “We came here running to meet LG as he had sent an urgent fax last night. Since we thought there must be some urgency we came here. But after coming here, we found that on Saturdays, he is on leave.”

He added, “I cross-checked and found that he is not even at home also. It appears that he is not in a mood to work.”

The LG’s office, however, refuted the charge. Asked if they had sought an appointment to meet the LG, Mishra replied, Since the Capital is reeling under an emergency situation and LG had asked Sisodia to come back immediately, we thought of meeting him. In such situations, there is no time for appointment and it was important to meet. 

In a dig at Jung, Mishra said, “We were also under impression that LG must have wanted to discuss in such situation how to end diseases like chikungunya. But he is not available. However, we are available on Saturdays too.”

Jain said he went to meet Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Friday. LG can have a discussion with me too as I am here in Delhi only and available at midnight too. 

Sisodia is in constant touch over the phone, said Jain. 

The Delhi health minister also tweeted, “Asked on phone if anything urgent as he faxed ydy to recall DyCm. Ans: nothing urgent to discuss, no time to meet today. “

Mishra tweeted, “One thing I realised that LG saab has blocked my number. I mean seriously.. why sir?”

He also appealed to the LG to stop enjoying weekends for now as in this crisis situation, all mohalla clinics and hospitals are open. The LG’s office, however, said it strongly rebuts charges levelled by both the ministers. They came to the office at 11.45am on Saturday without either seeking prior appointment from the Lt Governor or intimating him of their visit. 

The Lt Governor&’s office came to know of their visit only through the media gathered outside, who had prior intimation that they were going to visit the LG, said the LG’s office in its statement. The Secretary to the LG said he met the Ministers since the Lt Governor&’s office is operational on all days of the week. However, they neither submitted any letter nor gave any representation to the Lt Governor. 

It is regrettable that at a time when Delhi is facing such a serious public health crisis, the elected government is choosing to politicise the issue instead of providing succour to the public, stated the LG’s office. It also said the LG’s office is keeping a close watch on the health situation in Delhi and is getting regular updates on the situation from the Chief Secretary and Secretary. 

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today attacked ruling BJP in Gujarat over the detention of dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, saying the episode reflects the party’s fear and its days in the state are numbered. Gujarat Police detained Mevani last night, who led a Dalit stir.