New Delhi: Union Minister Smriti Irani launched a scathing attack on the Congress party and its former president, Rahul Gandhi, after he released a white paper on the BJP government’s Covid management.
Referring to Gandhi as ‘Gyani Baba’ (wise man), Irani advised him to introspect, even as she posed some questions to the Congress party.
While Gyani Baba is dishing out pearls of wisdom to Honourable Prime Minister, he may like to introspect on the following –
•Where did second wave start? – Congress ruled states
•Which states had huge percentage of India’s cases and deaths? – Congress ruled states
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) June 22, 2021
“While Gyani Baba is dishing out pearls of wisdom to the Honourable Prime Minister, he may like to introspect ..”, wrote Irani, sharing a list of questions for the Congress.
Irani alleged that the second Covid wave in the country started from states where the Congress was in power. She also claimed that the highest fatality rates (the number of deaths, compared to the total number of people infected), as well as “astronomical positivity rate” during the second wave, were also in states that have Congress governments.
“States with maximum noise against vaccines creating vaccine hesitancy – Congress ruled states.. who demanded decentralization & then did a U-turn?- Congress”, Irani continued.
While India administered more than 80 lakh vaccines Monday, Irani claimed that Congress-ruled states performed the worst, even as the country created a world record.
Irani’s allegations brought youth Congress leader B.V. Srinivas and Congress leader Alka Lamba to Gandhi’s support. While Srinivas tweeted that a “fake degree holder ‘Yale Aunty’ is jealous of Rahul ji’s wisdom & masters degree from Trinity College, Cambridge”, Lamba wrote that Gandhi’s report had brought “all Sanghis to the field”.
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‘Management of first and second Covid wave disastrous’
Meanwhile, Sambit Patra, national spokesperson of the BJP, also addressed a press conference and said that it was “unlucky” that Gandhi made these remarks a day after India achieved a record 80 lakh vaccinations in a day.
“How long will you conduct digital press conferences? Attempt going to the bottom in Congress-ruled states and assess the Covid scenario there,” he added.
Gandhi released a white paper Tuesday on the Modi government’s Covid-19 management, adding that its purpose was to help the country prepare for a possible third wave and not to criticise the government.
While releasing the report, Gandhi said it was clear that the management of the first and second Covid waves had been “disastrous”, and that the party has tried to point out reasons for that in the white paper.
Asserting that the central pillar to fight Covid is vaccination, Gandhi said it was important that “we cross the bridge of 100 per cent vaccination as soon as possible”. He also urged the government to treat all states equally for Covid-19 vaccinations, stating that there should be no bias and they should not be viewed as BJP or opposition states.
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
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