Covid Spike: Centre, Maharashtra Govt Exchange Verbal Volleys Over Oxygen Supply, Remdesivir Injection

Taking potshots at the state government, Union Minister for Commerce and Industries Piyush Goyal on Saturday alleged “Maharashtra is suffering from an inept” and “corrupt government”, adding “the Centre is doing its best for the people”.

(Image: PTI)

New Delhi/Mumbai: With Maharashtra registering its highest ever Covid-19 spike, the Centre and Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government exchanged verbal volleys over oxygen supply and Remdesivir injection amid deteriorating situation in the state.

Taking potshots at the state government, Union Minister for Commerce and Industries Piyush Goyal on Saturday alleged “Maharashtra is suffering from an inept” and “corrupt government”, adding “the Centre is doing its best for the people”.

“Maharashtra is suffering from an inept & corrupt government & the Centre is doing its best for the people. People of Maharashtra are following ‘Majha Kutumb, Majhi Javabadari’ dutifully. It is time the CM also follows his duties in the spirit of ‘Majha Rajya, Majhi Javabadari’,” he tweeted.

Continuing his diatribe against the Maharashtra Chief Minister, Goyal said he “needs to stop his daily dose of shameless politics and take responsibility” while pointing out Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his review meeting spoke about the need for the Centre and states working with “synergy in this crisis”.

“Just yesterday, PM in his review told that centre & states should work with synergy in this crisis. With this background, shocked and saddened to see petty politics being played by @OfficeOfUT. He needs to stop his daily dose of shameless politics and take responsibility,” he wrote on the micro-blogging platform.

Goyal claimed Maharashtra has so far received the highest quantity of oxygen in India.

“Maharashtra has so far received the highest quantity of Oxygen in India. Centre is in daily touch with State Governments to assess their needs & help them in best possible manner,” he tweeted.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on his part said he has reassured the Maharashtra Chief Minister of adequate and uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen, adding additional “1,121 ventilators are also being rushed to them given the surge in cases”.

“Spoke to #Maharashtra CM Sh Uddhav Thackeray Ji Reassured @OfficeofUT of adequate & uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen & all possible support w.r.t healthcare infra, medicines & therapeutics Additional 1,121 ventilators are also being rushed to them given the surge in cases,” he tweeted.

The Health Minister further said discussions were held with the Chief Minister regarding further stringent actions to be taken for containment, surveillance and treatment of Covid-19 cases.

Discussed with @OfficeofUT reg further stringent actions to be taken for containment, surveillance & treatment of #COVID19 cases Reiterated the need to focus on the 5 pillars “Test, Track, Treat, Covid Appropriate Behaviour & Vaccination” to tide over the emergent health crisis,” he tweeted.

This came as Maharashtra Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik earlier in the day alleged “step motherly treatment” on part of the ruling dispensation at the Centre to the state.

“Here is the another proof of step motherly treatment given by central government to #Maharashtra. This is the approval letter to one of the export companies to supply stock of #Remdesivir to the state of Gujarat Only. Can this double standards be explained? @ANI @PTI_News,” he tweeted while sharing the approval letter to one of the export companies to supply Remdesivir stock to only Gujarat.

Asserting it to be a dangerous precedent, Malik said the Maharashtra Government under these circumstances “will have no choice but to seize the stock of Remdesivir from these exporters and supply it to the needy”.

“This is a dangerous precedent and under these circumstances, Maharashtra Government will have no choice but to seize the stock of Remdesivir from these exporters and supply it to the needy. (2/2) @PMOIndia @drharshvardhan @ANI @PTI_News,” he wrote tagging Prime Minister Modi and the Union Health Minister.

Minister of State for Chemical and Fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya later lashed out at Malik for his outburst against the Centre and said the NCP leader’s tweets are “full of half truths” and “the threats issued are unacceptable”.

“Tweets by @nawabmalikncp are shocking. It is full of half truths and lies and the threats issued are unacceptable. He is unaware of the ground situation. GoI has been in active contact with officers of GoM and is assisting with supply of Remdesivir in every manner,” he tweeted.

Mandaviya said ensuring adequate supply of Remdesivir to the people of Maharashtra remains the Centre’s priority.

“We are doubling the production in the country and have given express permission to more 20 Plants since 12-4-2021 to manufacturers. Ensuring adequate supply of Remdesivir to the people of Maharashtra remains our priority,” he tweeted.

Taking on the NCP leader, the Minister of State for Chemical and Fertilisers wrote: “As per the Government’s record, there is only one unit of EoU and one in SEZ. We have reached out to all the Manufacturers of Remdesivir. No such consignment is stuck.”

“I request you to share the list of these 16 companies, availability of stock and WHO-GMP with them. Our Govt is committed to do everything to help our people,” he posted in a series of tweets.

Maharashtra, which is the worst affected by the pandemic, has reported the highest daily new cases at 63,729.