Shiv Sena (UBT) on Friday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led governments in Delhi and Bihar, alleging that the recent fire tragedies — at a hotel in the capital and a hospital in Bihar — have once again exposed what it called “entrenched administrative rot” at the heart of governance. The Uddhav Thackeray-led outfit made its remarks through an editorial in its party mouthpiece, Saamana.

What Saamana Said

The editorial drew a pointed contrast between the ruling dispensation’s rhetoric and ground reality. “In the regime of those who boast that Desh Badal Raha Hai (The country is changing), nothing has truly changed,” it stated. The piece argued that unauthorised buildings, fire-prone hotels and restaurants, and unsafe hospitals are symptoms of the same systemic failure — one shielded by corruption and selective enforcement.

The editorial accused authorities of routinely citing “short circuit” as a convenient explanation to deflect accountability. “Owners, operators, and the ruling authorities are brushing off their responsibility for these disasters,” it said, adding that the government’s typical response — superficial action and a convenient scapegoat — does nothing to address root causes.

BJP Governments in the Dock

The Thackeray camp directly named Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, noting that both had, “predictably,” ordered in-depth investigations and promised strict action. The Delhi Home Minister went further, ordering the immediate sealing of all establishments found violating the guidelines of the Bed and Breakfast (B&B) scheme in the capital.

The editorial was dismissive of these measures. “What will this achieve now? Will it bring back the innocent lives lost?” it asked, alleging a recurring pattern: “first, feast on the corruption within the B&B scheme, and when a tragedy occurs, execute arbitrary crackdowns, stage a drama of inquiries, and once public anger cools down, leave the common citizens at the mercy of fate to die again.”

Accountability and Compensation

Shiv Sena (UBT) also alleged widespread negligence in maintenance and inspections, and argued that compensation payments to victims’ families are routinely used as a tool to sidestep deeper accountability. “The rulers will offer a monetary balm of compensation to the kin of the deceased and distance themselves from the blame,” the editorial stated.

This comes amid broader public concern over fire safety compliance in commercial and healthcare establishments across Indian cities, where enforcement of building codes and safety norms has long been flagged as inconsistent.

Political Context

The criticism from the Uddhav Thackeray faction carries particular weight given its opposition to the BJP at both the national level and within Maharashtra. By channelling the attack through Saamana — the party’s official editorial voice — the outfit has signalled that it intends to sustain political pressure over the tragedies rather than treat them as passing news events. How the BJP governments in Delhi and Bihar respond to the ongoing investigations will determine whether the political heat intensifies further.