New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Friday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) report that claimed India has been underreporting Covid-19 deaths heavily. Reacting to the report, Rahul in a Tweet said "science doesn’t lie. Modi does."
"47 lakh Indians died due to the Covid pandemic. NOT 4.8 lakh as claimed by the Govt,” the Congress leader tweeted this morning. “Respect families who’ve lost loved ones. Support them with the mandated ₹4 lakh compensation."
The BJP immediately hit back accusing the Congress leader of playing politics on an issue like the Covid-19, and alleged that the WHO’s data and Congress’ “beta” (son) are wrong.
While speaking at a press conference in Delhi Today, BJP Spokesperson, Sambit Patra said that the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) methodology of calculating Covid-19 deaths in India is "flawed". He also said the government has conveyed its displeasure over the issue to the organistaion, reported PTI.
Speaking further, Patra said that Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly tried to dent Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image since he was voted to power at the Centre in 2014, which has also lowered India’s image.
Patra Claimed India has a robust mechanism for birth and death registration.
On Thursday the World Health Organization (WHO) said that there were 4.7 million Covid-related deaths in India between January 2020 and December 2021, 10 times the official figures and almost a third of coronavirus deaths globally. The number according to the Indian government were not correct and soon raised an objection with the organistaion.
The government questioned the methodology of data collection for the report and raised objection.
"Despite India's objection to the process, methodology and outcome of this modelling exercise, WHO has released the excess mortality estimates without adequately addressing India's concerns," the statement said.