Govt once again forgetting devastation caused by second wave, says Cong’s Gogoi

Written by Shankhyaneel Sarkar | Edited by Avik Roy, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Dec 02, 2021 03:40 PM IST

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Gogoi asked for data on second dose given to citizens, aid given to divyang citizens and asked BJP MPs to remember devastation caused by second wave earlier in 2021.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Thursday said that certain MPs of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are forgetting the devastation caused by the second wave of Covid-19 earlier this year.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi speaks in the Lok Sabha during ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, in New Delhi. (PTI Photo) — Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi speaks in the Lok Sabha during ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)

“The Prime Minister asked the nation to remain vigilant regarding Covid-19. Other MPs of the BJP also need to ask citizens to remain vigilant and follow Covid-19 preventive measures. Earlier this year, on several forums the government declared victory over Covid-19 and it was months before the Covid-19’s second wave which caused large numbers of deaths and forced us to ask foreign nations for ventilators and equipment for oxygen generation,” the parliamentarian from Assam said.

He said that the government imposed taxes on petrol, GST on several items, increased the price of LPG and taxed the poor while claiming that certain MPs of the ruling party said that it is providing the vaccines for free in an apparent reference to BJP's Dibrugarh MP Rameswar Teli saying back in October that the government procured vaccines using the tax imposed on petrol and diesel. The government, however, reduced taxes on petrol on the eve of Diwali. He said the government should have announced more economic relief as the second wave led to job losses and pay cuts.

Gogoi inquired regarding the status of Covid-19 vaccine’s second dose and also sought clarification on the real number of deaths caused during the pandemic. Speaking on the vaccination drive, he said that vaccination records should not be only touched during events like Modi's birthday. “Citing Assam’s vaccination data, I can say that vaccination records rose leading to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday and it fell days after that and it was also low days before the event,” Gogoi said. He also disapproved of the usage of the Prime Minister's photos on vaccination certificates.

He said that the government should own up to the mistakes it made. “Do not accuse us for the achievements you have failed to achieve. The government should take credit for the objectives it has achieved but also take ownership of the failure,” he further added.