BJP slams government policy on acid victims

New Delhi: Welcoming  the Union government for getting a policy of acid victims approved by the Supreme Court on Thursday, Vijender Gupta, Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly, on Friday criticised  the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for its failure to enact the law for these victims during the past three years in the national capital.

According to Mr Gupta, the Delhi government is lagging far behind the Central government in taking a positive action with regard to the acid attack victims.

“The aim of the Centre’s policy will be of little use unless the Delhi government makes the much-needed changes or amendments in its own Act. The Centre has come to the help of acid attack victims,” he said.

“It has in consultation with the National Legal Service Authority (NLSA) has drawn up a relief policy offering minimum compensation of Rs 7 lakh in case of disfigurement due to burning. But on the other hand, the Delhi government has failed to regulate the sale of acid and enact a law to replace the 100-year-old of Poison Act, 1919,” said Mr Gupta.

Mr Gupta further claimed that the Supreme Court had directed the state governments in 2013 and 2015 to impose ban on sale of acid and directed them to enact a, new law to ensure effective compliance.

“But the Delhi government has made no progress so far. It is not surprising that acid is being sold freely and openly in lanes and by lanes of the city. Since the orders of the Supreme Court, there have been more than 30 incidents of acid-related crimes,” Mr Gupta added.

Mr Gupta alleged that Delhi continues to enforce sale of acid through the defunct the Poison Act, 1919. “The Supreme Court direction to enforce new law has not been followed,” he added.