Asha Kiran shelter home deaths: Delhi LG hits out at AAP on posting of administrator

New Delhi [India], August 3 (ANI): After several deaths occurred in Delhi's Asha Kiran Shelter Home, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Saturday hit out at the AAP-led Delhi Government over the posting of the administrator at the shelter home.
Notably, the AAP has accused LG VK Saxena of posting a corrupt officer as the administrator at the shelter home.
In a statement from the Delhi LG office, it said, "The administrator of Asha Kiran Home was appointed internally by the Social Welfare Department, which is a fully transferred subject under the control of the CM/ Minister. He was NOT appointed by LG. He was of course posted to the Social Welfare Department being a DANICS officer on February 15, 2020, after approval of the LG. Thereafter, the Minister posted him as Administrator of Asha Kiran Home. The press statement issued by AAP is blatantly wrong and arrogantly misleading. Typical abuse and scoot by AAP and its leaders and Ministers."
"The Social Welfare Department has not had a Minister ever since Raj Kumar Anand resigned. CM Arvind Kejriwal even when out on bail, found time to accept his resignation and forward it to LG, but did not deem it to appoint a new Minister, in a sensitive department that more than any other requires political oversight. And Saurabh Bharadwaj has the shameful audacity to talk of accountability?" the statement added.
Delhi Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj asked LG Saxena why the administrator has not been suspended yet.
"The officer who has been appointed as the administrator of the shelter home by the central government and LG (VK Saxena) was caught by CBI red-handedly doing corruption in 2016. The officer was suspended for five years. I want to ask the LG VK Saxena on what basis such a corrupt officer was appointed as the administrator. Why the administrator has not been suspended?" he said.
Earlier today, addressing a conference, the Delhi Minister said that tThe people who were kept in that shelter home were mentally weak and in such a situation, it becomes very important to take care of them and it is very important for the caretaker to have a sense of service and sensitivity.
"Today a group of our MLAs went to Asha Kiran Shelter Home but they were not allowed to go inside. Due to media pressure, they were allowed to go inside. There has been a debate going on in Delhi for many days that who will transfer and post the officers. When transfers and postings take place, generally good officers are given good departments, but those who are suspected of being corrupt are given such postings where there is less possibility of theft. My question to the LG and the central government is why was Rahul Agarwal given responsibility in such a sensitive posting. Rahul Agarwal is the SDM who was caught in 2016 on charges of taking bribe," Saurabh Bharadwaj said.
Meanwhile, as per the official report, the highest number of deaths (14) have been recorded in the month of July in Asha Kiran Shelter Home.
The official report stated that a total of 25 deaths were recorded from February 2024, out of which 14 deaths occurred (Male-6, Female-8) in the shelter home in the month of July only. (ANI)