New Delhi, Jun 20 (IANS): Upping the ante against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the national capital, the Delhi Congress, here on Saturday, accused it of delaying the works of two hospitals that could have added around 2,300 beds and saved many lives.

Delhi Congress chief Chaudhary Anil Kumar visited the Baba Ambedkar Hospital in Dakshin Puri and the Indira Gandhi Hospital in Dwarka that are ready but not being used by the Delhi government.

Kumar said the party had written twice to the city government and also raised the issue during the all-party meetings with Lt Governor Anil Baijal and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

"Who is going to take the responsibility for Covid-19 deaths in the national capital? Had these 2,300-bed hospitals been ready, the Rs 8-10 lakh package in private hospitals been saved," he said.

Lives of many poor people would have been saved by converting them into Covid care centres, he added

He also accused the Arvind Kejriwal government of negligence in using hospitals. "When the government hospitals' buildings are ready, but not being used, it's negligence," he said.

He slammed AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh for praising Shah at the meeting and misleading the people by differing outside.

The national capital on Friday reported the highest single-day spike of 3,137 Covid-19 cases, taking the tally to 53,116. Sixty-six deaths took the Covid-19 toll to 2,035.

The city government has been facing flak from the opposition parties for poor handling of the situation.

On Thursday, the Union Home Minister held a Covid-19 review meeting with senior officials. It was also attended by the Delhi Chief Minister.

Shah took stock of the situation and preparedness to contain the pandemic. It was the third meeting between Shah and Kejriwal over the Covid-19 situation since Sunday.