Delhi government's negligence turned national COVID-19 crisis from bad to worse: Shyam Jaju

After Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to all opposition parties to unite in these trying times to combat COVID-19, ETV Bharat spoke to BJP's national vice president Shyam Jaju to know how will the party cooperate with the Kejriwal-led government to flatten the COVID-19 curve in the national capital and push the city towards normalcy.

New Delhi:As the national capital saw no respite from the ruthlessly ascending curve of COVID-19, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal appealed to all opposition parties to unite in these trying times and stand together in the fight against coronavirus.

In this regard, ETV Bharat spoke to BJP's national vice president Shyam Jaju to know how will the party cooperate with the Kejriwal-led Delhi government to flatten the COVID-19 curve and push the city towards normalcy.

Speaking exclusively to ETV Bharat, Jaju said that the Delhi government has failed to tackle the COVID-19 situation and has rather turned the national crisis from bad to worse in the city.

Delhi residents are bearing the brunt of AAP government's negligence in tackling the infection, he said.

The minister said that the central government has not only asked the states to be prepared for the worst situation but also provided them with financial aid to handle the crisis efficiently and effectively.

Asserting that the BJP aided poor to cope up with the prevailing situation, as the Delhi government failed to do so, he said, "Since the very beginning, the BJP has helped ailing people who were in need of treatment and provided the poor with food, medicines."

Recently, Delhi Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal overruled Arvind Kejriwal government's order to restrict treatment only to Delhiites at Delhi govt-run and private hospitals saying,"We are all Indians, Delhi belongs to all."

Private hospitals in Delhi — a wider territory that encompasses New Delhi — report that all of their sickbeds and ventilators are in use. Severely ill people have been turned away from public hospitals, too.

Speaking over the matter, the minister said, "Firstly, I would like to ask the Delhi government that how many people have come to the city from other states for treatment in the lockdown. Earlier, the movement was restricted so how can someone travel to Delhi for treatment. The government is making excuses to hide their failure."

On May 6, the Delhi government nudged centre to declare community transmission of the coronavirus in the city and suggested that the capital might by July 31 witness 5.5 lakh COVID-19 cases and need 80,000 hospital beds for them.

The recent spike in the number of coronavirus cases being reported daily has led many to speculate that another lockdown is on its way for the citizens of Delhi.

In this regard, he said that the central government is closely monitoring every activity and if the situation demands another lockdown, it will be implemented.

"Any decision that will be taken by the government will be in the interest of the people," he said.

On Wednesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the present situation and the challenges arising due to a high number of cases.

The coronavirus situation in Delhi is turning out to be far more critical than expected earlier. The national capital now has over 33,000 cases and is expected to witness a sharp jump in cases over the next 15-20 days.