New Delhi:
Samajwadi party leader Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday hit out at the BJP after videos emerged showing the roof of the new Parliament building leaking due to heavy rains in Delhi, which has so far claimed nine lives and caused severe waterlogging in the city. He shared a video from a courtyard of the building, built at a cost of nearly Rs 1,000 crore, showing water leaking from a domed glass roof and into a blue bucket.
“The old parliament building was better than this new one. Why not go back to the old parliament… at least until the water (stops) dripping in a parliament built with billions of rupees…”
Mr Yadav once again hit out at the BJP, alleging that “people are wondering whether the dripping of water from every new roof built under this government is part of a well-thought-out design or…”
I think I can relate, I think it's like this I think I did it right I think I like it, I-से-कम तब तक क I think I can relate I think I did it right
I think I did good I know, I… photo.twitter.com/PpJ36k6RJm
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) August 1, 2024
According to the Lok Sabha secretariat, the “minor water leakage” was caused by loose adhesive strips on glass domes – “installed on parts of the building, including the lobby, to utilise the abundant natural light” -.
“During the heavy rain on Wednesday, the glue used to secure the glass domes above the building's lobby became slightly loose, causing a small water leak in the lobby,” the Secretariat said, adding: “The problem was discovered and immediate measures were taken. No further leaks were observed…”
However, other opposition members, including Trinamool Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra and Congress MP Manickam Tagore, have ridiculed the BJP over the video.
“New parliament lobby leaking water…” Ms Moitra posted on X, comparing the apparent leak to the BJP’s “faltering” election results; the saffron party claimed a third term in the April-June elections, but only with the support of allies, after falling 32 seats short of an outright majority.
Mr Tagore's message referred to the row over the leaked examination papers for the NEET-UG medical course, which the opposition has been using to attack the central government.
“Paper leakage on the outside, water leakage on the inside…” he explained.
Paper leakage outside,
water leakage inside. The recent water leakage in the lobby of the parliament used by the president highlights urgent weatherproofing issues in the new building, just a year after completion.
A suspension motion is moved in Loksabha on this issue. #Parliamentphoto.twitter.com/kNFJ9Ld21d— Manickam Tagore .B🇮🇳மாணிக்கம் தாகூர்.ப (@manickamtagore) August 1, 2024
“The recent water leakage in the lobby of the Parliament used by the President (Droupadi Murmu) underscores the urgent issues with the weatherproofing of the new building,” he also said. He indicated that he will move an adjournment notice in the ongoing sitting of the Lok Sabha to discuss the issue.
Not to be outdone, Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party, which has been in a long-running battle with the BJP over the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate, posted the following message: “Parliament built at a cost of Rs 120 billion now depends on a bucket of Rs 120 billion.”
₹1200 for a price of ₹ैयार for a price of ₹120 for a price of ⁉️ photo.twitter.com/kKlJTEK81N
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) August 1, 2024
The government has not yet responded to the video or the opposition's mocking comments.
The excavations come days after a video emerged of water leaking from the roof of a Vande Bharat train from Delhi to Varanasi. A video shared by a passenger shows water flowing into the carriage.
Northern Railway said a ''temporary blockage of the pipes'' was the cause of the leak.
The Vande Bharat trains are one of the government's most important railway projects.
And in June, there were reports of water leakage through the roof of the sanctum sanctorum, or inner chambers, of the grand Ram temple, which had been inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a high-profile event in January, just weeks before the general election.
The chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das also complained about lack of drainage.
READ | No Drainage, Roof Leaks After Rain: Ram Temple Priest
However, the temple's administrative officials rejected this claim, saying that rainwater had dripped down pipes “fixed to install electrical wires” during construction work on the second floor.
READ | No leakage in Ram temple, water dripping from pipes: Trust Chief
Delhi has been experiencing heavy rainfall for the past 24-48 hours.
READ | 9 dead in Delhi-NCR, schools closed, red alert for heavy rain
The downpour, which saw parts of the city receive record amounts of rain, prompted the India Meteorological Department to issue a 'red alert' for the city.