'Canopy inaugurated in 2009': Congress, BJP blame each other over Delhi Airport roof collapse

NEW DELHI: A political uproar erupted Friday morning after a Delhi airport canopy collapsed following heavy rain, killing a person and injuring several.
Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the incident that occurred at Terminal 1, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that the portion of the canopy that collapsed was inaugurated by PM Modi on March 10.
However, Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu, who visited the site hours after the incident, clarified that the roof canopy that had collapsed was part of the old structure that was built in 2009.
"We are taking this incident seriously...I want to clarify that the building inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi is on the other side and the building that collapsed here is an old building and was opened in 2009," the minister said.
Kharge said "corruption" and "criminal negligence" were responsible for the canopy collapse and listed out several past incidents, "exposing" the Prime Minister's claims of creating "World Class Infrastructure".
"Corruption and criminal negligence are responsible for the collapse of shoddy infrastructure falling like a deck of cards, in the past 10 years of Modi Govt," Kharge wrote in a post on X.
"Delhi Airport (T1) roof collapse, Jabalpur airport roof collapse, Abysmal condition of Ayodhya's new roads, Ram Mandir leakage, Cracks in Mumbai Trans Harbour Link road, 13 new bridges falling in Bihar in 2023 & 2024, Pragati Maidan Tunnel submerging, Morbi bridge collapse tragedy in Gujarat, ... are some stark instances which expose the tall claims by Modi ji and BJP of creating "World Class Infrastructure"! On March 10th, when Modi ji inaugurated the Delhi Airport T1, he called himself "Doosri mitti ka insaan... All this false bravado and rhetoric was only reserved for quickly indulging in ribbon-cutting ceremonies before Elections! " he added in the post.
Expressing his condolences to the victims, Kharge wrote, "Our heartfelt condolences to the victims of the Delhi airport tragedy. They bore the brunt of a Corrupt, Inept and Selfish Govt."

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi also trained gun at PM Modi, alleging poor quality of work that led to the "tragic death" of a cab driver.
"Delhi Airport Terminal-1, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister in March, today its roof collapsed in which a cab driver died tragically. The roof of Jabalpur Airport, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister three months ago, also collapsed. The whole country is saddened by the poor condition of construction work in Ayodhya," said Priyanka.
She also questioned the PM for taking responsibility and said: "This is the corrupt model of BJP of "take donations and give business" which has now been exposed. The question is whether the Prime Minister will take responsibility for these poor construction works and this corrupt model?"

BJP leader Amit Malviya came down heavily over the Congress's remarks, claiming that during Congress-led UPA rule "contracts were given to whoever sent the biggest kickback".

"The part of T1 that collapsed was opened in 2009 when Congress-led UPA was in power. In those days there was no concept of quality check and contracts were given to whoever sent the biggest kickback to the ruling Congress. Sonia Gandhi, who was then the super PM, must answer," Malviya wrote.
On Congress's charges, Union minister of civil aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu stated that the building was inaugurated in 2009.
" ... we are taking this incident seriously...I want to clarify that the building inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi is on the other side and the building that collapsed here is an old building and was opened in 2009," Kinjarapu said.

NCP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel, who was Union civil aviation minister in 2009 during the UPA rule, also expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased and appreciated the "swift response" by emergency services.
"Deeply saddened by hearing about the roof collapse at Delhi Airport's T-1 Terminal. My heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased and prayers for the injured. Grateful for the swift response by emergency services. Stay safe, everyone," he wrote on X.