Lucknow, June 23 -- Amidst the mourning and rescue operations following the devastating fire at a commercial building in Lucknow's Aliganj area, which claimed 15 lives on Monday, a sharp political confrontation has erupted between the ruling BJP and the opposition Samajwadi Party (SP).

The standoff was triggered by remarks from SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav, who blamed the current administration for "gross negligence" and corruption regarding building approvals and safety norms. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who has been overseeing the relief efforts, issued a scathing rebuttal, accusing the former Chief Minister of politicising a national tragedy.

Addressing the allegations, Pathak pointedly blamed the legacy of the previous administ...