New Delhi: Over two lakh people have died in the country due to Covid-19 since the pandemic hit India last year, according to official figures. Of these, nearly one fourth — over 48,000 — have died just in the last month as the second Covid wave engulfed the country.
More than 3,000 patients passed away just Tuesday in a span of 24 hours. Very many of those who have died in the second wave are people who couldn’t find hospital beds or oxygen cylinders or even the most basic medical aid on time.
The second wave has seen a collapse of the health infrastructure across the country but especially in places like Delhi and Uttar Pradesh — with Covid patients scrambling for medical resources.
But for ministers of the Narendra Modi government, it’s almost as if there is a parallel reality that exists — one where PM Modi is the “champion of the poor”, ensuring “uninterrupted supply of oxygen”, for which he needs to be thanked — constantly.
Even as social media platform Twitter is flooded with requests for help and SOS calls for beds and oxygen cylinders, the ministers are perpetually in a state of gratitude towards the PM.
A look at the posts shared by the PM’s cabinet members on Twitter over the past couple of weeks showed that they’ve been constantly expressing their gratitude to him for a range of things. Sometimes, it’s for oxygen cylinders and other times, it’s for boosting medical supplies from other countries. When it’s not for either, then it’s for the vaccine drive.
Most of these tweets are crafted in a similar fashion, and the ministers began posting them 20 April onwards — the same date when PM Modi addressed the nation over Covid last.
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Hardik abhinandan and humble thanks: Modi’s ministers to Modi
Union Minister for Education Ramesh Pokhriyal Monday extended his “humble thanks” to the PM for “authorising key decisions to boost the availability of medical personnel to fight Covid-19”.
Humble thanks to Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji for authorising key decisions to boost the availability of medical personnel to fight COVID-19#Unite2FightCorona
For more details: https://t.co/vWTgeQmwfZ
— Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) May 3, 2021
The minister had just last week thanked the PM for setting up 551 Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen generation plants in public health facilities across the country through the PM CARES fund.
PM श्री @narendramodi जी के नेतृत्व में बेहतरीन जनस्वास्थ्य हमारी सरकार की सर्वोच्च प्राथमिकता है।इसी के तहत आज #PMCares फंड से देशभर के 551 जिला सार्वजनिक अस्पतालों में ऑक्सीजन प्लांट लगाने के लिए स्वीकृति प्रदान की गई है।इस व्यापक जन हितकारी निर्णय हेतु प्रधानमंत्रीजी का आभार। pic.twitter.com/jkIeVzG2uv
— Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) April 25, 2021
This is only one among the several tweets put out by ministers of the Modi cabinet singing paeans of his work, and almost always, thanking him for it.
Home Minister Amit Shah was among the first few ministers to begin the practice of thanking Modi for Covid-related work. Last month, he thanked the PM for allocation of funds to set up oxygen generation plants across the country.
A big decision to curb the oxygen crisis and help the people in need. I thank PM @narendramodi Ji for allocating funds to install 551 PSA Oxygen Generation Plants in public health facilities across the country through PM CARES.https://t.co/GBeiAbBgxc
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 25, 2021
Soon, other ministers followed suit.
Union Minister for Skill Development Mahendra Nath Pandey, Minister of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Giriraj Singh, also expressed his “hardik abhinandan” for PM Modi for the same.
कोरोना महामारी से निपटने और ज़रूरतमंद लोगों की मदद सुनिश्चित हेतु देश के 551 सार्वजनिक अस्पतालों में PSA ऑक्सिजन प्लांट लगाने का निर्णय अत्यंत जनकल्याणकारी है।इस कार्य हेतु पीएम केयर्स फंड द्वारा धनराशि आवंटित करने के लिए मा.पीएम श्री @narendramodi जी का हार्दिक अभिनंदन है।
— Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey (@DrMNPandeyMP) April 25, 2021
ऑक्सीजन संकट पर अंकुश लगाने/जरूरतमंद लोगों की मदद करने का एक बड़ा फैसला।
हम PM cares के माध्यम से देश भर में सार्वजनिक स्वास्थ्य सुविधाओं में 551 पीएसए ऑक्सीजन जनरेशन प्लांट स्थापित करने के लिए धन आवंटित करने के लिए PM @narendramodi जी को धन्यवाद देता हूं। https://t.co/z6ZcwyQ78y
— Shandilya Giriraj Singh (@girirajsinghbjp) April 25, 2021
Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also put out a similar tweet on 25 April stating how this step will ensure there is no shortage of oxygen and that it will strengthen India’s battle against the pandemic. And of course, he didn’t fail to thank the PM either.
Thank you @narendramodi ji for initiating the set up of 551 PSA Oxygen Generation Plants in govt hospitals across the country through #PMCaresFund.
This step will ensure there is no shortage of Oxygen and will strengthen our battle against the pandemic.https://t.co/Rhiw9sJacG
— Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (@gssjodhpur) April 25, 2021
In a span of three days between 25 and 28 April, BJP national president J.P. Nadda thanked the PM twice: Once for allocating funds to install 551 PSA Oxygen Generation Plants, and then again for sanctioning the procurement of 1 lakh oxygen concentrators.
I thank Hon PM @narendramodi Ji for allocating funds to install 551 PSA Oxygen Generation Plants in public health facilities across the country through PM CARES. Important decision which will ensure uninterrupted supply of oxygen at district headquarters.https://t.co/uxnAcCYnpx
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) April 25, 2021
I thank PM Shri @narendramodi ji for sanctioning the procurement of 1 lakh portable oxygen concentrators & 500 more PSA oxygen plants from PM-CARES. A big push to augment the supply of oxygen in demand clusters, specially in district HQs & Tier-2 cities.https://t.co/6Uuiy9u3Qq
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) April 28, 2021
There have been harrowing reports of deaths due to oxygen shortage in several parts of the country, including in Karnataka.
But that didn’t deter Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines, from lauding the PM for his “all-out approach against Covid and approval to procure 1 lakh oxygen concentrators utilising the PMCARE funds”.
PM @narendramodi ji has adopted an all-out approach in the fight against Covid. Approval to procure 1 lakh oxygen concentrators utilising the #PMCaresFunds will not only strengthen medical infrastructure but also help in saving lives. #IndiaFightsCoronahttps://t.co/NIZG6TjXEb
— Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) April 28, 2021
He too thanked the PM for increasing Karnataka’s Remdesivir allocation and daily oxygen because of his persuasion.
Thank you PM @NarendraModi ji, HM @AmitShah ji & concerned Union Minister for increasing Karnataka's Remdesivir allocation to 1,22,000 & daily Oxygen to 802 MT, based on my continous persuasion & request of @BSYBJP & @mla_sudhakar. A great help to Karnataka in this time of need.
— Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) April 24, 2021
Nadda said this was a big push to augment the supply of oxygen in demand clusters, especially in district headquarters and tier-2 cities.
I thank PM Shri @narendramodi ji for sanctioning the procurement of 1 lakh portable oxygen concentrators & 500 more PSA oxygen plants from PM-CARES. A big push to augment the supply of oxygen in demand clusters, specially in district HQs & Tier-2 cities.https://t.co/6Uuiy9u3Qq
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) April 28, 2021
Giriraj Singh went a step ahead to defend the country’s PM for the criticism coming his way for poor management of Covid in India amid the second wave. Singh posted on Twitter on 26 April:
It is the easiest thing to comment and the most difficult to face.
When the whole world is going through its most difficult phase, Sri @narendramodi ji is leading India against non-cooperation, lies, fraud, False panic and corona.
Come together and fight, we will definitely win.— Shandilya Giriraj Singh (@girirajsinghbjp) April 26, 2021
Among their own tweets, many of these ministers have also been retweeting each other’s posts on Twitter, particularly, those that praise and thank the PM for his Covid management.
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Gratitude at least once each day over last week
Many of the cabinet ministers also tweeted in unanimity about the PM’s decision to provide 5 kg per person per month free food grains to nearly 80 crore people in India over the month of May and June.
Lauding the pandemic relief announced by Narendra Modi on 23 April, his cabinet ministers took to their Twitter accounts one by one and praised the move.
The pattern is similar: Each of these tweets tag the PM and thank him for some Covid-related work or another.
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, among other colleagues, who has been receiving a lot of flak online his poor management of the second wave of Covid in India also expressed his gratitude to the PM.
This trend also showed that while the ministers put out similarly worded tweets on the same issue on a particular day, at least one cabinet minister has been putting out a tweet thanking him nearly every day since the past one week.
Champion of the poor – first & foremost !
Hail our beloved PM Sh @narendramodi Ji for securing food & nutrition for all….
He has always been the first to secure wellbeing of those most vulnerable.@PMOIndia @MoHFW_INDIA#Unite2FightCorona https://t.co/ixLWxhb9ha pic.twitter.com/5NSZClipsH
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) April 23, 2021
Thanks to PM Shri @narendramodi Ji for Centre’s decision to provide 5 kg/per person, per month free food grains to 80 crore needy people for the next 2 months under “PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojna” #PMGKAY to ensure relief in the pandemic period. #Unite2FightCorona
— Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi (@naqvimukhtar) April 23, 2021
कोरोना के बढ़ते प्रभाव को देखते हुए ₹26,000 करोड़ से प्रधानमंत्री गरीब कल्याण योजना के अंतर्गत दो महीने तक 5 किलो अनाज देने के निर्णय पर @narendramodi जी का अभिनंदन करता हूँ। इससे देश के करीब 80 करोड़ लोगों को लाभ मिलेगा। मोदी सरकार इस आपदा में हर कदम देशवासियों के साथ खड़ी है।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 23, 2021
कोविड महामारी को हराने की दिशा में प्रयासरत केन्द्र सरकार द्वारा 80 करोड़ गरीबों को आने वाले मई और जून के महीनों में प्रधानमंत्री गरीब कल्याण योजना के तहत मुफ्त अनाज दिया जाएगा। समाज के गरीब वर्गों को समर्पित इस निर्णय के लिए मा. प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी आपका बहुत आभार। pic.twitter.com/sYHqR7jcEu
— Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey (@DrMNPandeyMP) April 23, 2021
कोरोना महामारी की चुनौतियों को देखते हुए आर्थिक रूप से कमजोर वर्ग के लिए पुनः प्रधानमंत्री गरीब कल्याण अन्न योजना शुरू करने के लिए प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी का धन्यवाद। इसके तहत मई और जून महीनों में कुल 80 करोड़ लोगों के लिए खाद्य सुरक्षा सुनिश्चित हो सकेगी। pic.twitter.com/qj41e9Ug46
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) April 23, 2021
पीएम @NarendraModi जी के नेतृत्व में केंद्र ने प्रधानमंत्री गरीब कल्याण अन्न योजना के अंतर्गत मई और जून माह के लिए देश के 80 cr ज़रूरतमंद लोगों को 5 kg निःशुल्क खाद्यान्न प्रदान करने का निश्चय किया हैं।
यह मोदी सरकार के गरीब कल्याण उन्मुखी स्वभाव को दर्शाता है।
धन्यवाद मोदी जी
— Thawarchand Gehlot (@TCGEHLOT) April 24, 2021
कोरोना काल के संकट को देखते हुए आज पीएम @narendramodi जी ने गरीबों की मदद के लिए प्रधानमंत्री गरीब कल्याण अन्न योजना के तहत मई और जून महीने में 80 करोड़ लाभार्थियों को 5 किलो प्रति लाभार्थी निःशुल्क खाद्यान्न देने का फ़ैसला लिया है।इसके लिए प्रधानमंत्री जी का हार्दिक धन्यवाद। pic.twitter.com/fOnMoxghoK
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) April 23, 2021
कोरोना के बढ़ते प्रसार के बीच देश के 80 करोड़ लोगों के लिए ₹26000 करोड़ की लागत से मई-जून माह तक मुफ्त अनाज देने की घोषणा हेतु PM @narendramodi जी का हार्दिक धन्यवाद।
लोककल्याण की दिशा में इस कदम से गरीब व जरूरतमंद लोग पोषण संबंधित अपनी ज़रूरतों को पूरा करने में सक्षम होंगे।
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) April 23, 2021
कोविड महामारी से लड़ने के दौरान कोई व्यक्ति भूखा न सोए, इसके लिए पिछले वर्ष की तरह इस वर्ष भी, प्रधानमंत्री गरीब कल्याण योजना के अंतर्गत अगले दो महीने के लिए ५ किलो मुफ़्त अनाज की व्यवस्था की गई है।इससे ८० करोड़ ग़रीबों को लाभ मिलेगा। इसके लिए प्रधानमंत्री मोदीजी को बहुत धन्यवाद।
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) April 23, 2021
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Delay in vaccination drive, but PM must be thanked nonetheless
While the vaccination drive for those in the 18-44 age group has been getting delayed in many parts of the country, PM Narendra Modi’s council of ministers didn’t leave the opportunity to thank him on the day of the announcement on 19 April.
Due to the shortage of vaccines, the drive was delayed in many states and didn’t start on 1 May as announced by the Government of India.
“Thank you, PM Shri @narendramodi ji for leading the battle against Covid. The decision to allow all those above 18 to get vaccinated will strengthen our fight against Covid,” Pralhad Joshi tweeted on the same day.
Thank you, PM Shri @narendramodi ji for leading the battle against Covid. The decision to allow all those above 18 to get vaccinated will strengthen our fight against Covid. https://t.co/eVDrr43MyZ pic.twitter.com/4m0D19Oybh
— Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) April 19, 2021
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also put out a similar tweet on the same day.
Arming the nation to fight the pandemic on a greater scale.
All above 18 yrs will now be able to get vaccinated while companies can sell upto 50% of their vaccine to state govts and other institutions directly.
Thank you PM @narendramodi ji.#VaccineForAll
— Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (@gssjodhpur) April 19, 2021
Among other things, the same politicians also expressed their regard to the PM for waiving basic custom duty and health cess on oxygen and oxygen-related equipment. “Covid related vaccines are also exempted from customs duty,” J.P. Nadda posted last week.
I thank Hon PM Shri @narendramodi ji for waiving off basic customs duty & health cess on oxygen & oxygen related equipment. Covid related vaccines are also exempted from customs duty. The decision will augment production & availability of these items & will help in saving lives.
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) April 24, 2021
Shekhawat also thanked the PM for the same stating how “(t)his will help scale up the battle against the pandemic at this hour of a global crisis”.
Thank you PM @narendramodi ji for exempting Covid 19 vaccines from import duty and medical oxygen and oxygen-related equipment from basic customs duty and health cess.
This will help scale up the battle against the pandemic at this hour of a global crisis.
— Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (@gssjodhpur) April 24, 2021
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