The tradition of making political capital out of misfortunes has assumed systemic proportions in India.

The Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and Deputy Chief Minister, Sisodia, are on foreign jaunts to different countries and Health Minister Satyender Jain is in Goa. CM Kejriwal who was electioneering in Punjab elections is now in Bengaluru to get his ‘throat ailment treated

Once again the culture of political blame game came into sharp focus while tragedy stalked Delhi in the form of lethal Chikungunya , which has already claimed four lives. While government hospitals in Delhi were flooded with Chikungunya cases, the State ministers and the Delhi Administration were conspicuous by their absence. The Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and Deputy Chief Minister, Sisodia, are on foreign jaunts to different countries and Health Minister Satyender Jain is in Goa – ostensibly to set base for the elections in that state which is going to be held sometime next year.

Chief Minister Kejriwal who was electioneering in Punjab elections is now in Bengaluru to get his ‘throat ailment treated.” For the warring BJP and AAP, the calamity and the suffering of the people proved to be an ideal opportunity to continue the blame game. Instead of forgetting their differences and deploying collective efforts to deal with the lurking tragedy and rush to the aid of the patients, both the parties were busy involved in a slugfest against each other.

Chief Minister Kejriwal was quick to grab the opportunity and tweeted that he was left with no power “even to buy a pen,” and that all the powers are with the LG and the Prime Minister. “The LG is abroad when he is wanted in Delhi. Question them.” He blamed the Centre and the MCD for not controlling and preventing the mosquito menace. He also said that AAP was an outsider, when it came to deal with such situations.

The BJP also with equal alacrity came out with all guns firing and called for the resignation of the Chief Minister. “The state government is in deep slumber. If the Chief Minister is unable to deal with this contingency, he should resign,” was the party’s refrain. Another ludicrous and disturbing factor that emerged is the dearth of adequate beds and doctors in Delhi to deal with the overflowing number of patients. Shocking isn’t it that a Nation’s Capital is ill-equipped to deal with emergency situations.