At a time when the Congress ruled states continue to lead in the number of Covid infections and lag in vaccination, party scion Rahul Gandhi thought it was prudent and not ironical to present a ‘white paper’ on Modi government’s disastrous handling of the first and second wave of the Wuhan coronavirus. Union Minister Smriti Irani, who defeated the dynast from his home turf of Amethi, evaporated Gandhi’s so-called white paper point-by-point.
Earlier this week on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi held a virtual press conference where he slammed the Modi government for the ‘mismanagement’ of the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic. While presenting the Congress’ white paper, Gandhi claimed that Covid deaths are 5-6 times higher than the official numbers.
He said, “90 per cent of people who have died could have been saved. The biggest reason for this was the lack of oxygen at the time. While there is no shortage of oxygen in the country. PM’s tears did not save the lives of people but oxygen could have.”
He added, “It is clear that management of the first and second was disastrous, we have tried to point out the reasons for it.”
However, little did Gandhi know that Smriti Irani would take exception to the so-called white paper and evaporate his accusations against the Modi government.
Terming Gandhi as Gyani Baba, Irani in a series of tweets said, “While Gyani Baba is dishing out pearls of wisdom to Honourable Prime Minister, he may like to introspect on the following –
“- Where did second wave start? – Congress ruled states
Which states had huge percentage of India’s cases and deaths? – Congress ruled states.”
In another tweet, the Union Minister pointed out:
“- State with the highest case fatality rate – Congress ruled state.
States with maximum noise against vaccines creating vaccine hesitancy – Congress ruled states.
States which had an astronomical positivity rate during the second wave – Congress ruled states.”
The Amethi MP concluded, “Who demanded decentralization & then did a u-turn?- Congress. Which states did the worst in terms of vaccination yesterday even as the country created a world record? – Congress ruled states.”
As if to further rub salts into the wounds, just days after Gandhi slammed India’s vaccination drive, the country inoculated more than 8 million people in a single day. Such has been the success of India’s vaccination drive that the world is keenly looking to adopt key facets of India’s vaccination policy starting with Cowin.
Rahul Gandhi would be better advised to send his words of wisdom to Congress-ruled states.