Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra speaks to the media on the Mustafabad building collapse incident, in New Delhi on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders attacked the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday over the collapse of a building in north-east Delhi’s Mustafabad. The BJP accused the previous AAP government of protecting unauthorised constructions in the “Muslim-majority” neighbourhoods for “vote bank politics”.

Labour Minister Kapil Mishra alleged that AAP had facilitated the unchecked growth of unauthorised buildings in localities such as Mustafabad, Seelampur, Jafrabad, Old Delhi, Jamia, and Seemapuri. “It is essential to survey these illegal constructions and take strict action,” the Minister said after visiting the site.

He also said that it is not an accident but a “criminal negligence”.

Echoing the charge, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva claimed that over the past decade, AAP MLAsand councillors from Muslim-dominated constituencies permitted – or actively encouraged – illegal six-storeyconstructions.

He alleged that these structures were rented out by political associates to boost incomes and secure vote banks.

Mr. Sachdeva said that there were more unauthorised buildings in “Muslim-majority areas” and termed them “ticking time bombs”. He also claimed that in “most Hindu-majority areas”, approved colonies, construction rarely exceeds three floors.

“As a precautionary measure, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) should order evacuation, sealing and demolition of illegal fifth and sixth floors in [unauthorised] buildings,” said Mr. Sachdeva, adding that many potential disasters are waiting to happen in areas like Karawal Nagar, Mustafabad, Okhla, Matia Mahal, Ballimaran, and Sadar Bazar.

AAP declined to comment on the allegations when contacted. However, the party’s national convener and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged party workers to assist in relief efforts and support the local administration in managing the aftermath of the tragedy.

“I have directed MCD Commissioner Ashwani Kumar to conduct an investigation into the incident and to suspend the officials found guilty of negligence,” MCD Mayor Mahesh Kumar Khichi said in an X post.