PM Modi’s ‘Nautanki’ Responsible for Covid Second Wave, Says Rahul Gandhi; Govt Hits Back

“The first wave no one understood but the second wave is the PM’s responsibility. His stunts (nautanki)... His failure to fulfil his responsibilities is the reason for the second wave,” he said.

New Delhi: Holding Prime Minister Narendra Modi responsible for the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged the former is an “event manager” and said the country will be hit by multiple waves of the infection if the ruling dispensation at the Centre does not come up with an appropriate vaccination strategy.

Addressing a virtual press conference, Gandhi launched a blistering attack on the Prime Minister over the present Covid-19 situation in the country.

“The first wave no one understood but the second wave is the PM’s responsibility. His stunts (nautanki)... His failure to fulfil his responsibilities is the reason for the second wave,” he said.

Taking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre to task for ignoring the virus, the Congress leader said “unfortunately, the Prime Minister is an event manager”, adding “he cannot deal with more than one event at a time”.

“Anything happens, he will organise an event and deal only with that. We cannot do with an event manager in such times. We need effective and speedy administration,” he said.

Asserting lockdowns, social distancing and masks are temporary solutions to tackle Covid-19, Gandhi expressed his concern over “only three percent” of the Indian population being vaccinated so far and called for an appropriate vaccination strategy on part of the Centre.

“I directly told the PM that if India does not sort out its vaccination strategy, there will be multiple waves since the virus adapts. The Prime Minister is the head of the country. He is responsible for its well-being. The buck stops with the Prime Minister. But the Prime Minister lives in a bubble... no one talks to him because of the way he handles things. So, in effect, the ship is moving without a clue,” he added.

Escalating his attack on Prime Minister Modi, Gandhi said the former is “trying to repair his image but his image is gone”.

“It is time the Prime Minister stands up and leads the nation. These are the times where he has to show his leadership, his courage, his strength. The Prime Minister must stand up and deliver... The time has come to show what a good leader you are. So, please deliver,” he added.

The Central government hit back at Gandhi with Union Minister Prakash Javadekar leading the charge.

“If you understand the importance of vaccine today then why did you put a question mark when Covaxin was introduced? Do not create confusion in the minds of people. Your gimmick did not stop even when the Prime Minister took the vaccine himself,” he said in a tweet tagging the Congress leader.

Javadekar also lashed out at Gandhi for using the word “nautanki” directed at Prime Minister Modi.

“The Prime Minister is fighting Covid with the people of the country. And he uses words like ‘nautanki’, which is an insult to the nation and the people. We will not use such words as the people have long put an end to their ‘nautanki’,” he wrote on the micro-blogging platform in Hindi.

In an apparent reference to the controversy surrounding alleged toolkit, the senior BJP leader said Gandhi’s words established that the Congress Party had definitely prepared a toolkit.

“Rahul ji your PC is as per the script of toolkit. The people understand all this,” he posted.