New Delhi: Pained at the sight of the worsening COVID situation in the national capital, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Shoaib Iqbal on Friday appealed to the Delhi High court for President's rule with immediate effect.
Iqbal said," I am not proud today. I am embarrassed of being an MLA as I am unable to help people in this stressful time."
In a video message, Matiya Mahal lawmaker said, "People are dying in Delhi and it makes my heart cry. My friend is admitted to a hospital but I am helpless. People are running from pillar to post for beds, oxygen and medical assistance. But there is a dearth of ICU beds and Remdesivir injections. If being an MLA I am not able to help, what would be the plight of the common man? I appeal to the Delhi High Court to impose President's rule."
"It is extremely painful to see people dying due to lack of oxygen, hospital beds and medicines. My friend, who is admitted to New Life Hospital, urgently needs Remdesivir and other medicines but nothing is available in the market. How do I arrange it?", he said.
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He said, "The government is not able to function properly and is not able to support us. I am a six-time MLA from Delhi and a senior leader but still, nobody is ready to listen to me. We are not able to contact anyone. We don't know who are the nodal officers deployed."
Opposition parties - BJP and Congress have extended support to Iqbal's appeal to Delhi HC to impose President's rule.
Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana said, "Shoaib Iqbal is one of the oldest politicians of Delhi Legislative Assembly. He knows Delhi. If he is demanding that President's rule should be imposed in Delhi, his appeal is correct."
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Delhi Congress Vice President Abhishek Dutt suggested that the Indian Army should be roped in to tackle the deteriorating coronavirus situation in the national capital.
Dutt said, "If a senior and experienced leader like Sohaib Iqbal has sought President's rule, then one must understand the gravity of the situation in Delhi. People are facing difficulties and are not getting beds, oxygen and medicines. People are left to die on the streets. It is important that President's rule should be imposed to save Delhi and govt should take help of Indian Army."
Delhi recorded 368 more COVID-19 deaths and 25,986 new cases of the infection on Wednesday with a positivity rate of 31.76 per cent, according to the latest bulletin issued by the city health department.
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