Parliament Debates Deaths At Rau’s IAS: Calls For Action And Investigation

Both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha have discussed the tragic deaths of civil services aspirants at Rau’s IAS basement library in Delhi.

In the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed concern about the commercialization of coaching centers. He mentioned that coaching has become a business, with ads frequently appearing in newspapers. Dhankhar decided to have a brief discussion on the incident and will meet with party leaders to address the issue.

In the Lok Sabha, the issue was raised during Zero Hour. BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj criticized the AAP government, accusing it of “criminal negligence” regarding the deaths. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who visited the hospital where the injured are being treated, called for financial compensation for the victims. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congress MP Pappu Yadav also demanded an investigation into the incident.

Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) commissioner Ashwani Kumar announced that a junior engineer had been fired and an assistant engineer suspended due to lapses related to the incident. On Monday, bulldozers were seen clearing illegal encroachments on the streets of Karol Bagh, where Rau’s IAS Study Circle is located.

Delhi BJP workers protested outside the AAP office, blaming the AAP government for the incident. A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Delhi High Court, seeking a high-level investigation into the deaths and the MCD officials who allegedly ignored a complaint from June 26. The PIL also called for the formation of district-level committees to address illegal commercial constructions.