Central govt warned drug exporters not to supply Remdesivir in Maharashtra: MVA Minister

Maha Vikas Aghadi Minister Nawab Malik leveled serious charges against the central government, claiming it had warned the exporters of Remdesivir that their licenses would be canceled if the drug is supplied to Maharashtra. A war of words ensued between the ruling and opposition party leaders over the insufficient supply of Remdesivir to Maharashtra.

Mumbai: Maharashtra Minority Minister Nawab Malik leveled serious charges against the central government, claiming it had warned the exporters of Remdesivir that their licenses would be canceled if the drug is supplied to Maharashtra.

He tweeted a letter of the Gujarat Food and Drug administration and claimed that Gujarat got more supply of Remdesivir injections than Maharashtra, accusing the central government of step-motherly treatment.

A war of words ensued between the ruling and opposition party leaders over the insufficient supply of Remdesivir to Maharashtra.

Refuting the charges, BJP leaders had asked Malik to come up with proof. Malik then tweeted the Gujarat Food and Drug administration's letter to support his claim.

Malik further said that the central government has put a ban on the export of Remdesivir. "Therefore, 16 exporters from the country have 20 lakh Remdesivir. However the BJP government in New Delhi has warned them against supplying it to Maharashtra," Malik added.

Malik tweets Gujarat FDA's letter

When the state government spoke to 16 exporters regarding Remdesivir they said they were told not to give it to Maharashtra, Malik had claimed. BJP leaders came down on Malik and asked him to show proof of his claims.

Malik then tweeted Gujarat FDA's letter and said that while Gujarat got more than sufficient supply of Remdesivir, Maharashtra was struggling to get the medicine amid a huge increase in cases.

Give proof or resign, says BJP

BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar criticised Nawab Malik for his claims and said he should justify them. 'Give proof or resign', the BJP leaders demanded. They said the state government had failed to handle the crisis which resulted from the surge in Covid-19 cases.

"There was shortage of beds in hospitals and supply of oxygen was insufficient. In order to cover its failure, the state government was making claims against the central government and blaming it," BJP alleged.