A political row erupted after at least two foreign diplomatic missions in New Delhi accepted oxygen cylinders from the youth wing of the opposition Congress amid the raging second Covid-19 wave – leaving the government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party red-faced.
The activists of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) led by its president B V Srinivas delivered oxygen cylinders to the Embassy of Philippines and the High Commission of New Zealand.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, however, claimed on Twitter that the Embassy of Philippines had none suffering from Covid-19 and the IYC’s delivery of oxygen cylinders to it was an “unsolicited supply” for “cheap publicity”. He also tweeted that giving away oxygen cylinders at the time of crisis was “simply appalling”.
MEA checked with the Philippines Embassy. This was an unsolicited supply as they had no Covid cases. Clearly for cheap publicity by you know who. Giving away cylinders like this when there are people in desperate need of oxygen is simply appalling. @Jairam_Ramesh https://t.co/G3jPE3c0nR
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 2, 2021
The diplomat-turned-politician took to Twitter to defend the BJP Government after the Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Jairam Ramesh retweeted the IYC leader’s tweet, which had a video of the cylinders being delivered at the Embassy of Philippines. “While I thank @IYC for its stellar efforts, as an Indian citizen I’m stunned that the youth wing of the opposition party is attending to SOS calls from foreign embassies. Is the MEA sleeping @DrSJaishankar?” posted Ramesh.
While I thank @IYC for its stellar efforts, as an Indian citizen I’m stunned that the youth wing of the opposition party is attending to SOS calls from foreign embassies. Is the MEA sleeping @DrSJaishankar ? https://t.co/iEG49baE9l
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 1, 2021
Jaishankar’s post was contested by the IYC, which posted screenshots of the online communications of the Embassy of Philippines with its activists before the delivery of the cylinders. The IYC also tweeted a Facebook post by the Embassy of Philippines, which acknowledged the receipt of the two cylinders and thanked the activists of the Congress' youth wing.
We got a request for an urgent requirement of Oxygen Cylinders for 2 Covid patients in Philippines Embassy
— Youth Congress (@IYC) May 2, 2021
The Cylinders were delivered at the embassy on a much solicited request
Post delivery embassy thanked us on Facebook. All screenshots attached with names and number masked pic.twitter.com/0sZb5ihnFG
Ever since the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic hit Delhi and adjoining areas along with the rest of the country, Srinivas and his team of IYC activists have been responding to distress calls on social media from the families of the patients infected with the coronavirus, delivering either medicines and oxygen cylinders, or arranging beds at the Intensive Care Units of the hospitals.
The High Commission of New Zealand in New Delhi too posted on Twitter early on Sunday, seeking help from Srinivas and the IYC to procure oxygen cylinders. “We have reached the New Zealand High Commission with oxygen cylinders. Please open the gates and save a soul on time,” Srinivas tweeted after some time.
We have reached New Zealand High Commission with oxygen cylinders.
— Srinivas B V (@srinivasiyc) May 2, 2021
Please open the gates and save a soul on time. #SOSIYC https://t.co/BzGwj0eKBQ pic.twitter.com/0UVM6GWS0r
He later updated that the High Commission of New Zealand had opened the gate and accepted the cylinders.
Update- New Zealand high commission opened gates of the embassy and accepted cylinders.
— Srinivas B V (@srinivasiyc) May 2, 2021
Also, they thanked the #SOSIYC team for this quick relief as patient inside embassy was critically ill. https://t.co/BzGwj0wm0q pic.twitter.com/vu6TUhD1r8
The High Commission later deleted the original tweet seeking help from the IYC, apparently after taking note of Jaishankar’s response to the tweet by Ramesh. It, however, later posted: “We are trying all sources to arrange for oxygen cylinders urgently and our appeal has unfortunately been misinterpreted, for which we are sorry.”
"The Chief of Protocol and Heads of Divisions are in continuous touch with all High Commissions/Embassies and MEA is responding to their medical demands, especially those related to Covid. This includes facilitating their hospital treatment,” Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson of the MEA, said. “Given the pandemic situation, all are urged not to hoard essential supplies, including oxygen”.
Our response to queries regarding medical requirements of Foreign High Commissions/Embassies in India: https://t.co/LTubmdsrke pic.twitter.com/actNa0KQpz
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) May 2, 2021