Patients suffering from fever in RML hospital in New Delhi on Tuesday. (PTI Photo) Patients suffering from fever in RML hospital in New Delhi on Tuesday. (PTI Photo)

As the number of deaths due to chikunguniya in the capital rises to 4, the political blame game between the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government and Centre has also picked up. With the Aam Aadmi Party ministers drawing flak for not being present in the city as deaths due to the vector borne diseases — chikunguniya and dengue — are on the rise, the Delhi Chief Minister on Tuesday said that Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be held entirely responsible for the situation.

In response to questions about why didn’t the Delhi government take adequate preventive measures to avoid a chikunguniya outbreak, a usually non-fatal disease, Kejriwal tweeted to say that he and his ministers have been stripped of all powers and that all questions about Delhi should be directed towards the Lt Governor and the prime minister, claiming that they alone enjoy all powers.

The Opposition quickly rebutted, slamming Kejriwal and his ministers they questioned the expenditure on AAP ministers’ foreign trips and questioned why ministers were out of the state when people needed them the most. Former Delhi chief minister and senior Congress leader Shiela Dikshit too weighed in and said, “It is the government’s responsibility to take preemptive steps when this season arrives, before people get sick,” news Agency ANI reported.

Here’s how people reacted on Twitter:

‘Kejriwal should resign if he’s unable to govern. We are ready to govern Delhi and deliver under the present … https://t.co/xJR80XVq0d — Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken) September 13, 2016

Kejriwal says he doesn’t have authority to buy even a pen. Which is why he sent Sisodoa abroad to buy either a pen or the authority. — Vivek Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) September 13, 2016

Kejriwal has conveniently left for his treatment in Bengaluru, while the entire city is sick! #KahaanHaiAAP — Tajinder Pal S Bagga (@TajinderBagga) September 13, 2016

Delhi battling the deadly Chikungunya & Arvind Kejriwal & Manish Sisodia are not even present in Delhi to address the emergency. Ridiculous! — Priti Gandhi (@MrsGandhi) September 13, 2016

Arvind Kejriwal, should have used * in every statement of his manifesto, directing to – In any case of failure, LG will be responsible — Rahul Raj (@bhak_sala) September 13, 2016

#AAPKahanHai If Kejriwal says go to LG & Modi why he should enjoy Salary & Perks? Better he resign. — Ravindra Karki (@e984557564104fc) September 13, 2016

Kejriwal resigned last time coz he couldn’t pass Janlokpal. What stops him from resigning now after realizing that he can’t do anything? — Namrata (@dixitnamrata) September 13, 2016

What kind of a cm responds in the midst of death due to chikunguniya by saying ask LG and PM — pallavi ghosh (@_pallavighosh) September 13, 2016

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