Congress on Friday pounded on the Narendra Modi government over the WHO's estimation that India had 47 lakh Covid-19 deaths and demanded the setting up of a Commission with members from all parties to analyse the fatalities and Rs 4 lakh compensation be paid to families of all victims.
From top leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, several leaders questioned the "under-reporting" of Covid-19 deaths. They asked whether it was the government's attempts to "escape" paying compensation to the affected families.
Rahul tweeted, "47 lakh Indians died due to the Covid pandemic. NOT 4.8 lakh as claimed by the Govt. Science doesn't LIE. Modi does...Respect families who've lost loved ones. Support them with the mandated Rs 4 lakh compensation."
Priyanka said when crores of people were pleading for oxygen, medicines and hospital beds for their families, the government was "juggling" figures. "The people of the country should know what the truth is," she said.
Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh told a press conference, "heeding to our demand for the last two years, the government must immediately form a Covid-19 Commission with members from all parties to analyse the deaths that happened due to unavailability of Oxygen, broken supply chain in case of vaccines and medicines and plan for better management during such pandemics."
He also demanded that the government must immediately pay Rs 4 lakh to the families of the people who have died due to Covid-19. "If it can’t provide medical care and facilities, this is the least the Modi government can do to pay respects," he said.
Vallabh claimed that the mismanagement of the pandemic by the BJP government was "not hidden from anyone" and the "apathetic attitude" has been evident all along.
"The nation saw people gasping for oxygen during the second wave. The world saw the Modi management style when thousands of bodies were floating in Maa Ganga. India was shamed at the world stage when pictures of the bodies floating were circulated in the international media. In short, while the Modi government has been chest thumping for its Covid-19 management, the reality is far harsher than what the government wants us to believe," he said.
The government must accept its "mismanagement" of the pandemic, Vallabh added.