Centre Concerned About Image Building Not Children: Dy CM Manish Sisodia

"Before the second wave of Covid, Indian scientists and doctors had repeatedly warned of UK variant, but the BJP-led Centre remained silent instead of doing something to save the lives of people in the country," Manish Sisodia said during a press conference.

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New Delhi: On Wednesday, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia countered the Centre's criticism of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's recent tweet after Singapore expressed its condemnation towards the same. 

AAP leader and Dy CM Sisodia alleged that the BJP-led Centre is concerned about image building aboard and not with the health of the children in the country. 

This may lead to yet another faceoff between the BJP-led Centre and the Delhi government as Sisodia who is also the nodal minister of Delhi's Covid-19 management, according to IANS said, "The issue is not Singapore, the issue is to protect our children. Today again the central government is unable to foresee the danger and is showing negligence about the safety of our children. The centre only cares about its image making abroad."

During a press conference, Sisodia accused the Centre of not taking scientists' and doctors' warning seriously and worrying about its image on the international stage. By IANS he was quoted as saying, "Before the second wave of Covid, Indian scientists and doctors had repeatedly warned of UK variant, but the BJP-led Centre remained silent instead of doing something to save the lives of people in the country."

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's tweet referring B.1.617.2 strain of Covivd-19 as "Singapore variant" has sparked a heated controversy. The Singapore government on Wednesday refuted claims and expressed strong condemnation towards Delhi CM saying that there was no truth in Kejriwal’s assertion.

Following Singapore’s strong response to Delhi CM’s claims, the Government of India clarified that "Delhi Chief Minister does not speak for India.”

Kejriwal on Tuesday had tweeted, "New variant of Coronavirus in Singapore is reported to be extremely dangerous for children. In India, it may come as a third wave. Suspend air services with Singapore immediately and vaccinate children on priority." The Delhi Chief Minister’s concerns came after seven of the 38 community cases in Singapore have reportedly tested “preliminarily positive” for the B.1.617 variant, which was first detected in India. 

Singapore foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan objected to Kejriwal's tweet and said, "Politicians should stick to facts! There is no Singapore variant."