Bengaluru: BJP National General Secretary CT Ravi on Monday said a national health emergency is necessary to arrest the surge in COVID-19 cases.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Ravi said the demand for oxygen has increased drastically and almost every state had been asking the Centre to provide Liquid Medical Oxygen to cater to COVID-19 patients.
"Earlier, the industrial demand (for oxygen) was 99% and medical demand 1%. However now, 99% of the demand is coming from the health sector. There is a need to put in place a tracker to systematically supply and monitor oxygen to states. This will go a long way in ensuring that the country will not find itself in an oxygen crisis again. Hence, it is vital to declare a national health emergency," he said.
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'Annamalai lost because of overconfidence'
When asked about the defeat of the much hyped BJP candidate from Tamil Nadu's Aravakurichi constituency, K Annamalai, Ravi said the former IPS officer lost because of overconfidence.
"He lost because he was overconfident. Aravakurichi is a tough constituency. He could have chosen an easy constituency and emerged victorious, but he did not. Anyway, he has only lost an election, not his confidence. He will take his work to people and certainly win the next time," Ravi said.