Despite Delhi Government’s rigorous efforts to present the actual number of deaths that took place because of the lack of oxygen during the COVID-crisis, the Centre through the LG has been repeatedly preventing the constitution of an inquiry committee for the matter. The Central Government has yet again rejected the High-Level Committee of Medical Experts constituted by the Delhi Government to investigate the deaths due to lack of oxygen in Delhi during the second COVID-19 wave. The Centre wants to hide its failure by hiding the data on deaths due to lack of oxygen. Deputy Chief Minister Shri Manish Sisodia said that on the one hand, the Central Government has asked states to convey the number of deaths due to lack of oxygen, and on the other hand, it is not even allowing the Delhi Government to investigate the matter. He further said that the Central Government, avoiding investigation, wants states to hand over the report to them without any investigation so they can claim that there have been no deaths due to lack of oxygen. He said that the centre is rubbing salt on the wounds of those who lost their loved ones during the oxygen crisis.
Shri Sisodia said, “Delhi Government has constituted a high-level inquiry committee of medical experts to investigate the number of deaths due to lack of oxygen. So that the reason behind these deaths could be duly investigated and a compensation of Rs. 5 lakh could be given to families of victims, but the LG has yet again rejected this committee.”
Deputy Chief Minister Shri Manish Sisodia had also written a letter to the Central Government, Union Health Minister and Union Home Minister in this regard and approached the LG to approve the inquiry committee. The file was re-sent but to no avail, as the LG rejected the inquiry committee.
Shri Sisodia said, “The LG is of the view that no deaths have occurred in Delhi due to lack of oxygen, so there is no need to form an inquiry committee. On the one hand, the Central Government is asking the states for the details of deaths due to lack of oxygen, on the other hand, it is not giving approval to the inquiry committee to investigate deaths so that it can claim that no deaths took place. It would be a big lie to say this and play with the sentiments of those who have lost their loved ones.”
Dy. CM Shri Manish Sisodia said, “It is a matter of shame that in the 21st century, the Central Government is saying that there should be no investigation into the number of people who died due to lack of oxygen in our nation. In the month of April-May, the gross mismanagement of oxygen by the Central Government, whether deliberate or unintentional, is a matter of investigation. The Central Government is fully responsible for the mismanagement of oxygen. Today, the Central Government is trying to hide the facts by avoiding investigation, but the Central Government will have to bear the responsibility of the deaths of lakhs of people who lost lives because of Central Government’s mismanagement.”
(Agencies)
