'Done Fighting? Let's Do Some Work': Kejriwal Urges AAP, BJP To Stop Clashing Over Oxygen Row

"If your fight over oxygen is over, can we get back to work? Kejriwal tweeted urging Centre to work together to make a system so no one faces oxygen shortage in the predicted third wave. 

With an intention to move on from the controversy over a Supreme Court appointed panel report on Delhi's oxygen demand which sparked a war of words between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Chief Minsiter Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday called for everyone to work together to make sure there is no shortage of oxygen in the national capital. 

"If your fight over oxygen is over, can we get back to work? Kejriwal tweeted urging Centre to work together to make a system so no one faces oxygen shortage in the predicted third wave. 

"The virus will win if there is a fight among stakeholders," the AAP supremo said a day after the BJP slammed him over the report that said Delhi's oxygen needs were exaggerated four times over during the second Covid wave.

"May we work now if your fight over oxygen is finished? Let us together make a system so no one faces shortage of oxygen in third wave, Kejriwal said in his tweet in Hindi.

There was an acute shortage of oxygen in the second wave. It should not be so in the third wave. Corona will win if we fight with each other. The nation will win if we fight together," he added.

Delhi's Exaggerated Oxygen Demand Controversy

A Supreme Court panel constituted for oxygen audit of Delhi reportedly found numerous gaps in the Delhi government's claims for 700MT medical oxygen during the peak of the second Covid wave.

"There is a gross discrepancy (about 4 times) in that the actual oxygen consumption (1,140MT) was about 4 times higher than the versus calculated consumption formula for bed capacity," the panel report noted.

AAP-BJP War Of Words

Soon after the SC panel report came out in public, several AAP leaders accused the BJP of "cooking up" the findings by apex court appointed committee. Meanwhile, the saffron party charged the Delhi government with "criminal negligence".

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleged that the "bogus" and "misleading" report was "cooked up" at BJP's office and submitted by the Centre in the apex court.

AIIMS Chief Rejects Allegations On AAP

AIIMS chief Dr Randeep Guleria, who also heads the Supreme Court-appointed sub-group, said that it would not be correct to say that Delhi "exaggerated" its oxygen requirement by four times during the second Coronavirus wave.

"Delhi oxygen audit is an interim report. We should wait for the final report," Dr Guleria told NDTV. When asked about the allegation of Delhi government exaggerating oxygen needs by four times, Dr Guleria clarified, "I don't think we could say that".