×
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Fadnavis writes to Sonia Gandhi, accuses MVA govt of fudging Covid-19 data

Fadnavis said it was the duty of the opposition to offer suggestions but efforts were on to create an atmosphere of negativity
Last Updated 15 May 2021, 13:41 IST

At a time when the 'Mumbai model' to fight coronavirus is being appreciated across the country, Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis shot off a letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi saying that the Maha Vikas Aghadi government was fudging Covid-19 figures.

Fadnavis, a former Chief Minister, highlighted that Maharashtra accounted for 22 per cent, 14 per cent and 31 per cent of India's total Covid-19 cases, active cases and deaths respectively.

He said that the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government — in which Congress is an alliance partner — was blaming the Centre for merely hiding its own failures.

According to him, the Narendra Modi government is offering much-needed help and standing solidly with the people of the state.

Fadnavis said that the Centre has provided 1.80 core doses of vaccine, over 8 lakh Remedesivir injections and 1750 MT oxygen to Maharashtra. The ventilators and oxygen concentrators were also provided in sufficient numbers by the union government, he said.

Fadnavis alleged that the state government had failed to announce any relief package for the poor, farmers and underprivileged sections of the society during the Covid-19 lockdown.

“But the state is trying to suppress the number of deaths for obvious reasons and prefer to register them under ‘deaths due to other reasons’…is hiding deaths called the 'Maharashtra model'?” he said.

“While 'death due to other causes' category constitutes for 0.8 per cent of the deaths in districts other than Mumbai, the percentage for Mumbai is 40 per cent. Every possible attempt is being made to hide the number of deaths in Mumbai. While there are approximately 88,000 deaths in Mumbai every year, 2020 saw the addition of 20,719 deaths. Out of these, 11,116 deaths have been designated as Covid-19 deaths. Only in 2020, 9603 deaths have been suppressed. This pattern is continuing this year too,” he said.

Fadnavis said it was the duty of the opposition to offer suggestions but efforts were on to create an atmosphere of negativity. “Mere criticism was not going to offer anything. But it's pertinent to have a look at what's happening in the states where Congress is in power. I hope you will be able to understand the current situation in Maharashtra,” he said.

Letter reflects RSS training: Congress

Reacting sharply to the letter, Maharashtra Congress has said that the letter reflects Fadnavis's training from RSS of dichotomy, hypocrisy and double-speak — a perfect example of the pot calling kettle black.

The strong-worded statement of MPCC came from its general secretary and spokesperson Sachin Sawant, who also tweeted “party of superspreaders including PM & HM (seen in West Bengal & Uttar Pradesh etc)” – a reference to Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.

“In Uttar Pradesh, more than 2,000 bodies are seen in Ganga river bed… Same scene in Bihar, MP as well! Entire world is blaming India for hiding figures thanks to the Modi government, it requires a different type of mindset to have courage to blame others for their own sins,” said Sawant.

“In India more than Corona, people are dying because of lack of oxygen, Remdesivir and ventilators. The true test of a leader is how well you function in a crisis. What Modi ji offered during Corona is tali, thali, ghanta (bell), diya and politics but did not offer strategy, planning or leadership that India desperately needed,” he said.

On the issue of ventilators, Sawant said: “It is commendable that some medical officers in Ahmedabad had courage to call spade a spade. But Still many government medical officers are scared. In Maharashtra many ventilators are lying unused. It is satisfactory that we could give voice to this injustice meted out to the people in dire need. A joint audit from the Centre and state government would be in public interest and will guarantee truth. Yesterday's reply of the central government to the report of the Aurangabad Medical College team on the uselessness of ventilators was an eyewash.”

ADVERTISEMENT
(Published 15 May 2021, 11:12 IST)

Follow us on

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT