Prime Minister Narendra Modi told members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Parliament on Tuesday that they must counter the opposition’s lies about the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) situation in the country. He was speaking at a meeting of the BJP’s parliamentary party.
According to the Prime Minister, a concerted effort is being made to create a negative atmosphere. Targeting the opposition Congress, PM Modi said, “It has not been able to come out of the coma (that) we have come this far. Congress’ behaviour is unfortunate, they are not able to digest the fact that we have reached this far and that there is no shortage of vaccine. Even in Delhi, 20% of the frontline workers have not been vaccinated.”
The government has been attacked by the Congress and other opposition parties, who accuse it of mishandling the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Prime Minister also urged MPs to be ready “with more boots on the ground” for the pandemic’s third wave, which is expected to hit in August-September, according to experts.
People familiar with the matter said on Monday that Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan will address floor leaders of political parties on Covid-19 today in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to the people cited above, Bhushan will also give presentations on the pandemic and how it was handled.
The meeting is set for Tuesday at 6 p.m.
On Monday, opposition MPs disrupted both houses of Parliament, attempting to raise a variety of issues, including price hikes and farmer agitation.
PM Modi was also prevented from introducing his newly appointed ministers in Parliament, after which he accused the opposition of being unable to “digest” the fact that “a large number of new ministers are women, Dalits, tribals and those from Other Backward Classes”.
