Lucknow, June 23 (IANS) In the wake of the tragic death of at least 15 people in a massive fire at a commercial building in Lucknow, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government, questioning its responsibility towards keeping checks on commercial activities that were allegedly being carried out in a residential area.

Talking to reporters at a ‘bhandara’, Akhilesh Yadav said: “Yesterday’s incident is saddening because so many students lost their lives. And those who went there for coaching, jobs, or work, most of them lost their lives. I have also heard that children were calling their parents and family members.”

“Some were calling their father; some were calling their brother. Many of them were calling the fire brigade. Just imagine, the families who have lost their children, the biggest sorrow is the loss of their own children,” he said.

Accusing the government of indulging in corruption as a result of which lives were lost, he added that it is not the first time that lives were lost in a tragedy in Lucknow.

The SP chief mentioned a few of the earlier tragedies in the city. “Before this, fire had broken out or intentionally been lit at a slum here. A similar incident had taken place in Charbagh. Also, one cannot forget that fire had broken out at a popular hotel in Hazratganj, leading to loss of lives,” he said.

“Yesterday, so many children lost their lives…commercial activity was being conducted in a residential area,” Yadav added.

Questioning the Uttar Pradesh government, he said: “What is the responsibility of the government? The easiest way for the government to escape (from responsibility) is by forming an SIT.”

Drawing comparison with the SIT probing the alleged theft of donations from Ayodhya’s Ram Temple, Akhilesh Yadav said: “It seems like there is no government for the last 10 years. The level of their corruption has surpassed everything.”

“There is only loot in this BJP government,” he further alleged.

–IANS

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