COVID-19 surge: As Captain of the ship, Modi should take responsibility for this mess: Tejashwi Yadav

Amidst the virulent second wave of pandemic, Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly and RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav speaks to The Puucho about the COVID-19 state of affairs in Bihar, Opposition politics and the return of his father Lalu Prasad.

If we go by the official statistics, the quantity of lively COVID-19 circumstances and quantity of deaths in Bihar is on the decrease aspect as in comparison with many different States. The floor reviews, together with the latest demise of Bihar Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Singh, point out a unique story. What is the actuality?

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has notoriously under-reported the numbers, be it the quantity of optimistic circumstances or deaths. But even when we have been to go by the official statistics, it’s alarming. For occasion, in April alone 2.4 lakh new circumstances and 984 deaths have been reported with TPR (check positivity charge) of 16.1%. These should not merely numbers. These are 984 treasured lives which have been misplaced because of lack of correct therapy and medical infrastructure. COVID-19 has now reached rural Bihar too. There should not sufficient beds, persons are struggling to get oxygen. Into the second 12 months of this pandemic, Bihar continues to be struggling, with the first step in pandemic administration — testing. It takes 7-10 days for the reviews to come back. We have the lowest share of vaccinated folks in the nation. And all this whereas, the Chief Minister is busy fudging the numbers which may be very unlucky.

Many consultants have stated that at the moment’s state of affairs is a outcome of apathy in the direction of medical infrastructure proven by successive governments. Aren’t the Opposition events who’ve been in energy in the earlier years equally to be blamed then?

This is a fallacious argument. In Bihar, the pandemic has spiralled out of management solely as a result of of the apathetic angle of the Nitish authorities. For a second, even when I have been to agree along with your speculation, Nitish Kumar has been the Chief Minister of Bihar for the final 15 years. Why are the positions of docs, nurses and different paramedics nonetheless vacant? Why don’t we’ve got sufficient beds? What has this authorities performed in the final one 12 months to enhance its medical infrastructure? How a lot cash from PMCARE is invested in Bihar? Why are ventilators rotting in warehouses? How lengthy will this authorities blame its predecessors for its personal failures?

There was sufficient warning about the second wave but the elections went on in 4 States and a UT not too long ago. In October, Bihar additionally had meeting polls, the place we noticed you addressing tightly packed public conferences. In hindsight, do you suppose if the Opposition events had taken a united stand these public conferences may have been prevented?

If you’d recall, we have been the first and doubtless the solely political occasion to put in writing to the Election Commission asking them to postpone the Bihar polls. We have been mocked by BJP-JD(U) and some sections of the media too. Since it was the name of the Election Commission to carry elections, we have been left with no selection however to take part. It’s grossly unfair to query the Opposition for each mishap in the nation. The authorities at the helm should even be requested and held accountable. Even now in West Bengal, amidst an unprecedented upsurge of COVID-19 infections, all events besides the BJP requested the EC to membership the remaining 4 phases of election. But the EC didn’t trouble. We have been diminished to a procedural democracy from being a substantive democracy.

In the previous few days we’ve got seen an “us vs them” narrative with the State governments blaming the Centre and the Centre blaming them. Who as per you holds the major responsibility for this mess.

Never earlier than in the historical past of impartial India have we witnessed such discrimination in opposition to the States by the Union authorities. In a pandemic, the Centre has received all the powers and management over the sources, the States are left begging for oxygen, testing kits, fundamental medicines and vaccines. The Centre is dictating the coverage which the States need to observe. If he [Narendra Modi] can boast about each little accomplishment, then as the Captain of the ship he should additionally take responsibility for this mess. But once more in a State like ours, even these restricted sources allotted by the Centre have been poorly distributed and managed. The Nitish authorities has performed completely nothing to ramp up medical services in the State. This so-called double engine authorities has resulted solely in double bother for the State and subsequently each should take the collective responsibility for this abject failure.

This one is a completely dictatorial authorities. What occurred in Bihar Assembly is unheard of. Lawmakers have been thrashed and kicked round by Patna police for peacefully protesting in opposition to the passage of the draconian particular armed police Bill in the Assembly. For this, they have been overwhelmed black and blue at the behest of Nitish Kumar. He is attempting to implement the agenda of RSS by altering the Constitution which we will vehemently oppose. For any democracy to thrive, the Opposition’s voice should be heard and accommodated however Nitish Ji does precisely reverse of it. He is stifling the contrarian voices.

At the second, he’s present process therapy at AIIMS and recovering at dwelling. His well being is our major concern as he has a number of co-morbidities. His routine checkup of coronary heart is due since lengthy. Considering his vulnerability, we’re taking utmost precautions. And positively he might be returning to Patna as soon as we seek the advice of his docs.

In each these States, the regional events are a formidable pressure and have dominated for over 3-4 many years. No one would deny the indisputable fact that the Congress has a pan-India presence.