New Delhi: Amid a rapid surge in COVID-19 cases across the country, chief ministers from the Congress-ruled states held a meeting with party president Sonia Gandhi, pointing out vaccine shortage in their respective states. The chief ministers have called for cooperation from the Central government.
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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was also present in the meeting, expressed deep concern over the second wave of COVID-19 hitting the country and asked for a 'concerted approach'.
Briefing Sonia Gandhi about the COVID-19 situation in his state, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel pointed out that the state has only vaccine supplies to last three days. He said the federal government needs to ramp up the supply of vaccines.
A similar concern was raised by Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh. He pointed out that the government has not given any assurance on the numbers and supply of COVID-19 vaccine doses to the state.
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Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the Centre must consider states as stakeholders and not as adversaries.
On behalf of the Maharashtra government, minister Balasaheb Thorat briefed the meeting saying that the state could vaccinate five lakh people daily, provided the federal government supplied vaccines.
He pointed out an urgent requirement for 1,200 ventilators, remdesivir injections and oxygen in the state. Thorat added that if the current situation continues, COVID vaccination centres would have to be shut down.
Expressing concerns over the matter, Rahul Gandhi said the central government should call for joining hands and energies, instead of "(celebrating) complacency and premature victories". He also said that the virus has affected the poorest and disadvantaged section of the society and reiterated the demand for ‘Basic Income Support’ from the federal government.
In her welcome address, Sonia alleged that the Modi government had "mismanaged" the situation - exported vaccine and allowed a shortage to be created in India.
