Satya Niketan tragedy: AAP accuses senior BJP leaders of running illegal PG nexus

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The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday alleged that a major nexus exists between senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and illegal Paying Guest (PG) accommodations operating in Delhi.

The allegations follow a five-storey hostel collapse in Satya Niketan last week that killed seven persons. The tragedy has sparked intense scrutiny over the safety of student housing.

Addressing a press conference, AAP Delhi State president Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “It has come to light that the PGs operating in Satya Niketan are being run by senior BJP leaders. There is a major nexus involving the BJP and its leaders in the PG business here.” He alleged that the RSS-affiliated student outfit Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad is also protesting against the commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi instead of protesting against BJP leaders or the local MLA or councillor.

The AAP also alleged that the BJP government is discriminating in its ongoing crackdown on dangerous buildings and the sealing of fifth and higher floors. Senior AAP leader and Burari MLA Sanjeev Jha alleged the action was disproportionately targeting ordinary residents, while large builders continued to construct five- and six-storey buildings with dozens of rooms without facing similar enforcement. He questioned why the rules were being applied differently to the rich and the poor.

“If the rules apply to everyone, action should also be taken equally against everyone. The people of Delhi elected this government with hopes of change and good governance. They do not want a system where the law reaches the homes of the poor but stops before reaching big builders,” he said.

On September 9, RK Puram BJP MLA Anil Sharma rejected AAP’s allegations of running a PG ‘mafia’ and shielding illegal PGs in Satya Niketan. He said his properties complied with all regulations and warned AAP leaders of a defamation suit.

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