Lamba ‘hampers’ firefighting operation, BJP demands FIR

NEW DELHI:In yet another controversy, Aam Aadmi Party MLA Alka Lamba indulged in midnight theatrics yesterday and hampered the work of firefighters in Chandni Chowk where goods worth Rs 100 crores of rupees gutted, say the shop owners who expressed their anger against Lamba and questioned her move of climbing atop the fire brigade.

Delhi fire personnel standing at the debris of burnt cloth shops after a major fire broke out in Moti Bazar of Chandni Chowk in New Delhi on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Mukesh Aggarwal

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 23

In yet another controversy, Aam Aadmi Party MLA Alka Lamba indulged in midnight theatrics yesterday and hampered the work of firefighters in Chandni Chowk where goods worth Rs 100 crores of rupees gutted, say the shop owners who expressed their anger against Lamba and questioned her move of climbing atop the fire brigade. They asked “why this drama”.

In a fresh move the BJP spokesperson and an advocate has filed a complaint against the MLA for hampering the work of the Delhi Fire Service under Section 180 of the IPC.

Further, the complaint says that MLA Alka Lamba, in spite of being a constitutionally elected member of the Delhi Assembly, was herself seeing climbing top of the crane of the Fire Department truck which is meant solely for firefighting and rescue operation whilst the fire was still raging and the fire fighters were attempting to douse the fire.

As per the video, Lamba was seen atop the fire brigade when firefighters were trying to douse the fire. Shop owners accused the MLA of halting the work. “She halted the work and indulged in theatrics. What was the need of doing politics at such a moment in the midnight,” a shop owner said.

“Shops are being gutted in fire and she is busy in doing photo shoot. What is the point of stopping the firefighters’ work,” another shop owner said. It is to be noted that at least 80 shops were gutted after the major fire broke out in the Moti Bazar area Chandni Chowk, last night. A call was received in late night about the fire and 32 fire tenders were rushed to the spot. A senior Delhi Fire Services officer said that the cause of the fire is suspected to be a short-circuit.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party has hit out at Lamba demanding an FIR against her. “Request the Delhi Police to register a case against AAP MLA Alka Lamba obstructing firefighters from doing their duty in Chandni Chowk,” BJP leader Nupur Sharma tweeted.

In a recent development according to sources the Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, called upon Alka Lamba to his office following the incident.