New Delhi: After Congress leader Rahul Gandhi shared on Twitter the video of Delhi-based journalist Ajay Jha, who has lost two of his family members to Covid-19 in a span of 10 days, the AAP government claimed to have reached out to him with offer to help.
In the video, Jha, whose entire family is now coronavirus-positive, had asked for urgent help from the authorities.
“All members of my family are coronavirus-positive — my wife and my two little daughters, aged nine and five. Two people in the family have died in the last 10 days — first my father-in-law and then my mother-in-law,” Jha said in the video, explaining his ordeal.
The Covid-positive journalist said he is in urgent need of help and treatment.
Gandhi, while sharing the video Tuesday, said there are “millions like Ajay”.
“For the millions of my sisters and brothers like Ajay, we share your pain. We will do everything to protect you. We will overcome this together,” Gandhi tweeted.
For the millions of my sisters and brothers like Ajay, we share your pain. We will do everything to protect you.
We will overcome this together. #SpeakUpDelhi pic.twitter.com/gO6mWD1F5h
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 9, 2020
Following Gandhi’s tweet, Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Jangpura Praveen Kumar said he had a word with Jha.
“I have spoken to Ajay ji and I asked him if he wants to get admitted to a hospital, but he said he is feeling fine right now. I have given him my number, if required, then he will be admitted to a hospital,” the tweet read.
मैंने अभी अजय झा जी से बात की और उनसे पूछा कि आपको हॉस्पिटल में एडमिट होना है उन्होंने कहा कि अभी ठीक महसूस कर रहे हैं सभी l मैंने अपना नंबर दे दिया है जरूरत पड़ी तो एडमिट कर करवा दिया जाएगा l@ArvindKejriwal https://t.co/G9iSxn6Eji
— Praveen Kumar (@Aap_Praveen) June 9, 2020
While Kumar did not respond to ThePrint’s calls and messages, an official in the health department of the Delhi government said Jha’s concerns have been addressed.
“Kumar ji asked him if he needs a hospital bed, but he has opted to self-isolate. We will continue being in touch with him. If needed, we will immediately arrange a bed for him and his family,” the official added.
Following Gandhi’s tweet, several journalists also took note of Jha’s ordeal and collected funds for him.
“We were shocked to see what Jha has been going through. So, a bunch of us pooled in money to try and help him in whichever way we can,” said a journalist in Delhi, who didn’t want to be named.
Also read: Why Delhi’s Covid patients are running from pillar to post in search of a hospital bed
‘Sab bhagwan bharose hai’
Explaining his ordeal, Jha, in the video, alleged the body of his mother-in-law was lying at their home for a long time, before an ambulance agreed to pick it up.
“My wife’s father died and two days ago, her mother also died in this house. The body was kept for a long time, but no one picked it up…” said Jha, who is a journalist with GoNews.
He also alleged no facilities are available in hospitals.
“Everyone is putting the responsibility on others. Kejriwal and the government claim that all the facilities are available, but the truth is that there is nothing available. Sab bhagwan bharose hai (All is left on god),” Jha added.
“Me and my family are in trouble. I want people to help us come out of the difficult situation… We are trying to be strong but don’t know what will happen. We need help and medical treatment. Hope the people will listen and come forward to help us,” he said.
ThePrint reached Jha via calls and texts, but there was no response until the time of publishing this report.
Also read: Endless queues & funerals, scared staff — Delhi’s Covid crisis unravels in chaos at crematoria