November 05, 2024 10:56 (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Pakistan's Lahore has become world's most polluted city with an AQI of 1900 on Sunday | Indian Army 'successfully completes' patrolling to a key point in Ladakh's Depsang region | US presidential election: Donald Trump ahead of Kamala Harris in swing states, poll survey predicts | 'I strongly condemn Hindu temple attack, intimidation of our diplomats': PM Modi amid Canada row | 'I strongly condemn Hindu temple attack, intimidation of our diplomats': PM Modi amid Canada row
12 opposition parties write to PM Modi suggesting measures to handle 'apocalyptic human tragedy'
PM Modi-Covid crisis
Image Credit: Narendra Modi Facebook

12 opposition parties write to PM Modi suggesting measures to handle 'apocalyptic human tragedy'

| @indiablooms | 12 May 2021, 08:50 pm

New Delhi/IBNS: Twelve major opposition parties have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding that the Centre takes immediate action to combat the massive second wave of Coronavirus which is creating havoc in the Asian country, leaving the heath structure overwhelmed and accounting for an unprecedented number of deaths.

Calling the pandemic an "apocalyptic human tragedy", the opposition parties suggested a string of measures that the Centre can implement to break the chain of infections including the distribution of free vaccines, a stop to the work on the Central Vista project and a repeal of farm laws.

"We have repeatedly in the past drawn your attention, independently and jointly, to the various measures that are absolutely imperative for the Central government to undertake and implement. Unfortunately, your government has either ignored or refused all these suggestions. This only compounded the situation to reach such an apocalyptic human tragedy," the letter, accessed by media, read.

The letter was signed by representatives of all key political parties except Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party and Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party.

The oppositions' 9-point suggestions include:

  • Central procurement of vaccines from all available sources - global and domestic.
  • Immediate free, universal mass vaccination campaign
  • Compulsory licensing to expand domestic vaccine production
  • Spending the ₹ 35,000 crore budgetary allocation for vaccines
  • Stopping the Central Vista construction and using the money for oxygen and vaccines
  • Releasing all money held in the "unaccounted private trust fund", PMCares to buy vaccines, oxygen and medical equipment
  • ₹ 6000 per month for the unemployed
  • Free distribution of foodgrain to the needy
  • Repeal of farm laws to protect farmers falling victim to Covid
  • The parties also sought a response from the PM.

"Though it has not been the practice of your office or government, we would appreciate a response to our suggestions in the interests of India and our people," the letter read.

On Tuesday, BJP chief JP Nadda had given a strong response to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's criticism of the government's handling of the Covid crisis.

"Your party, under your leadership, is doing no favours to itself by opposing lockdowns and then demanding for the same (sic), ignoring the Centre's advisories on the second wave of Covid and then saying they did not get any information, holding massive election rallies in Kerala causing a spike in Covid cases while grandstanding about election rallies elsewhere, supporting protests but speaking about following Covid guidelines," Nadda wrote.

"Even when the second wave was on the rise, your party leaders were happier being seen in super spreader political events in north India, where there was no regard for masks or social distancing. This is not an era when such information can be erased from public memory," he had added.

The letters come at a time when the Modi government is under scathing attack from not just the oppositions but by the foreign media too over its handling of the Covid situation "despite several warnings of a ferocious second wave".
 

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.