Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra today accused the Centre of failing to include the COVID crisis alleging that the government can speak to the ISI but not to the opposition. Referring to the letter written by former PM Manmohan Singh to PM Modi, she stated that Singh was PM for 10 years and absolutely everyone knows how dignified a individual he is. “If he’s giving suggestions when the nation is facing a pandemic, then suggestions should be taken up with the same dignity with which they were offered…This government can speak to the ISI. They’re speaking to ISI in Dubai. Can’t they talk to Opposition leaders? I don’t think there’s any Opposition leader who’s not giving them constructive and positive suggestions,” claimed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
She also hit out at the Modi government for prioritising exports of vaccine and Remdesivir rather than giving it for Indians. “1.1 million Remdesivir injections were exported in the last 6 months. Today we are facing a shortage. The government exported 6 crore vaccines between January and March. During this time, only 3 to 4 cr Indians were vaccinated. Why were Indians not prioritised?” she asked. She claimed that vaccine shortage is due to the terrible preparing of the government when Remdesivir shortage is due to no preparing at all. She stated that oxygen shortage is there due to no method place in spot by the government.
“India’s production capacity for oxygen is one of the largest in the world. Then why’s there a shortage? You had 8-9 months and your own Serosurveys indicated that a 2nd wave is imminent but you ignored it,” she stated, hitting out at the government.
She claimed that the Centre had time but it failed in managing the predicament. “Today, only 2000 trucks in India can transport oxygen. How tragic it is that oxygen is available but it’s not reaching where it should,” stated Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Cornering Prime Minister Narendra Modi more than his political rallies in West Bengal, she stated, “PM needs to show up. He needs to get off the stage of the rally where he is laughing and cracking jokes. He needs to come here, sit in front of people, talk to them and tell them how is he going to save lives?…Even today they’re busy with campaigning. They’re laughing from the stages. People are crying, screaming for help, seeking oxygen, beds, medicines, and you’re going to huge rallies and laughing. How can you do this?” stated Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Reacting to the Uttar Pradesh government’s step of growing COVID testing, she claimed, “Their own Serosurvey in October-November showed that 5 crore people came in contact with the virus. Ramping up of testing was recommended. The UP Government started 70 per cent antigen tests which means only 30 per cent RT-PCR test is being done.”
Priyanka also questioned the UP government for not ramping up the tests prior to. “Why the antigen tests? To lower their numbers? Even today reports are coming that private labs are being told to stop the testing. Why? What is important – people’s lives or your numbers and the image of your government?” she stated.
She also questioned the government more than deaths that occurred due to the lack of oxygen.