Amid the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) campaign for Assembly polls, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena visited some areas in Delhi today and pointed to the “hellish living conditions” there. Sharing visuals of open drains and residents complaining of huge power bills, Mr Saxena urged AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Atishi to visit these areas and take steps to fix the issues there.

“The stinking water accumulated in the alleys and streets is not rainwater, but from overflowing sewers. The women narrating their problems are from Delhi, not any other state,” the Lieutenant Governor said in a post on X after visiting Rangpuri Pahari in south Delhi and Kapashera in southwest Delhi. South Delhi MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri and several officials accompanied Mr Saxena.

“Residents of the area complained of inadequate power supply, irregular water supply and poor garbage disposal. Many residents complained of 8-10 hour power cuts daily and showed high electricity bills despite the Delhi government’s claims of providing free power,” the Lieutenant Governor wrote.

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गलियों और रास्तों पर जमा बदबूदार पानी बरसात का नहीं है, उफनते सीवरों का है।

अपनी समस्याओं और हृदय विदारक कष्टों को बयां करती महिलाएं दिल्ली की हैं, किसी और प्रदेश या देश की नहीं।।

राजधानी में लाखों लोगों की बेबसी और दयनीय जीवन को कल फिर से देखना बेहद… pic.twitter.com/T5GDXf7oYr

— LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) December 22, 2024

“I have assured of a cleanliness drive starting tomorrow. And I will personally monitor these efforts so that it can be ensured that the residents at least get basic services,” he said. “I urge the former Chief Minister, Chief Minister and ministers concerned of the Delhi government to visit these areas and see the hellish conditions. They must take immediate steps to improve this pitiable state of affairs. Let’s come together and make Delhi great again.”

The criticism by the Lieutenant Governor, a central government appointee, comes when the Arvind Kejriwal-led party has launched a campaign to showcase its achievements during its 10-year rule in the national capital. The AAP has pointed to revamp of government schools and neighbourhood clinics in its tenure, while the opposition BJP has flagged water and sanitation issues to corner the ruling party. Mr Saxena’s remarks also come against the backdrop of frosty ties between his office and that of the Chief Minister. Mr Saxena has criticised the AAP government over a host of issues, while the latter has alleged that the Centre appointee blocks its governance steps. 

Asked about the Lieutenant Governor’s social media post, Mr Kejriwal told the media later in the day, “I thank the Lieutenant Governor from the bottom of my heart. We will address all the shortcomings he has identified. He went to Nangloi-Mundka road and pointed to potholes, we are getting that road fixed. We will get the areas he visited today cleaned. I urge him to point out the shortcomings, we will resolve them.”

Tech billionaire Elon Musk, who is set to join President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, has ripped into the German government over the Friday night car attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, questioning the competence of Chancellor Olaf Scholz in leading the European country amid a series of extremist incidents.

At least five died and nearly 70 others were injured after a Saudi Arabian doctor barreled his BMW into a crowd of revellers during the busy hours of the Christmas holidays. He has been living in Germany since 2006, officials said yesterday but did not share further details.

Read: 5 Dead As Saudi Doctor Drives BMW Into Crowded Christmas Market In Germany

After German media identified the suspect as Taleb Abdulmohsen, 50, a self-described “Saudi atheist” with permanent residence status, several reports pointed out he not only held critical views against Islam but also believed Germany had a permissive attitude towards refugees from Muslim countries.

Germany’s interior minister Nancy Fraser said he had “Islamophobic” views. Scholz condemned the attack as “terrible and insane”, drawing sharp jibes from Musk over allegedly ignoring repeated warnings.

Read: Saudi Suspect In Germany Car Attack Held Strongly Anti-Islam Views: Report

A local prosecutor said the motive behind the attack remains unclear, but a possible factor could be his “dissatisfaction with the treatment of Saudi refugees in Germany”.

‘Suicidal Empathy By Germany’

Musk, who had yesterday called him an “incompetent fool” and demanded his resignation, continued his tirade against the German government over reports that it had refused to extradite the suspect to Saudi Arabia citing human rights concerns.

“Yeah, he was obviously a lunatic who should never have been allowed to enter Germany and should have been extradited when Saudi Arabia made the request. Suicidal empathy by the German government,” said the world’s richest man.

Reacting to a report that Abdulmohsen is a Saudi fugitive who Germany granted asylum, he said whoever refused to extradite a “murderer” deserves to be punished severely.

Read: “Incompetent Fool”: Elon Musk Slams German Chancellor Over Market Attack

“The guy is obviously an unhinged psychopath who should not have been allowed into Germany and should have been extradited when Saudi Arabia made the request,” he replied to another user.

Musk also sparked a row after calling the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as the country’s saviour – which is being seen as meddling into another country’s politics. Opinion polls have kept the AfD on the second spot, believing it may thwart a centre-right or centre-left majority, but German mainstream is unlikely to take support from the AfD at the national level.

The German government said yesterday they have taken note of Elon Musk’s remarks, but did not share any comment.

Germany has been hit by several suspected Islamic knife attacks in the past few months. A stabbing spree by a Syrian suspect in August left three people dead at a street festival in Solingen. In June, a cop was killed in a knife attack by an Afghan man.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena highlighted the “hellish living conditions” in parts of Delhi, sharing visuals of overflowing sewers and resident complaints about power cuts and sanitation issues. He urged Chief Minister Atishi and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal to address the problems. Kejriwal thanked Saxena and assured prompt action.