New Delhi: Dismissing the allegations against the Delhi government over the oxygen audit report by the Supreme Court panel, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday claimed that the report has not been approved by the apex court yet. Addressing a virtual presser, Sisodia said that the report "BJP has been quoting does not even exist."
Notably, the Supreme Court-appointed oxygen audit team submitted its interim report stating that there was no oxygen shortage in Delhi during the COVID peak and Delhi exaggerated requirements by 'four times'. Sisodia also challenged the BJP to present the report duly signed by the members of the Oxygen Audit Committee.
Read:| Delhi govt exaggerated oxygen need by four times: SC audit panel
Earlier today, the panel, led by AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria, included Delhi Government Principal Home Secretary Bhupinder Bhalla, Max Healthcare Director Dr Sandeep Buddhiraja and Union Jal Shakti Ministry Joint Secretary Subodh Yadav, in its report submitted to the top court, also said that the supply of excess oxygen to Delhi led to a shortage of life-saving drugs to many other affected states.
The report also stated that the supply of excess oxygen to Delhi could have triggered a crisis in its supply to 12 states with high caseloads. The report has set off political mudslinging and all the opposition parties are raising questions on the oxygen management of the Delhi government. In a sharply worded rebuttal, the Deputy CM said that BJP leaders prepare fake reports in BJP headquarters and abuse Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the people of Delhi.
Accusing BJP leaders of lying, Sisodia said the Delhi government had held discussions with the members of the Oxygen Audit Committee and they clarified that none of them has submitted or signed any such report. "Everyone knows that there was an acute shortage of oxygen in Delhi in the month of April following which many people lost their lives. It was Centre's responsibility to maintain a supply of oxygen to the national capital," Sisodia added.
Appealing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reign in his party leaders, he said the Bharatiya Janata Party has transformed into 'Bharatiya Jhagdalu Party', which when roughly translated read 'National quarrel party'. Meanwhile, reacting to the 'exaggerated oxygen need' statement mentioned in the Interim Report of Oxygen audit in NCT of Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said his crime was that he "fought for the lives of two crore people of the national capital."
Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal said, "My crime - I fought for the lives of 2 crore people of Delhi. When you were holding an election rally, I woke up all night arranging oxygen. I fought and pleaded for people to get oxygen. People have lost their loved ones due to a lack of oxygen. Do not call them liars, they are feeling very bad."
On Friday, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra also reacted to the Supreme Court panel's report stating that the Delhi government overstated its demand for medical oxygen during Covid's second wave by four times. Terming the data presented by Oxygen Audit Committee in its report as 'shocking', Patra said that it is a 'heinous crime' committed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. During a press conference, he said, "It is unbelievable to see that Arvind Kejriwal politicised oxygen supply when the COVID was at its peak. This is such petty politics."
Read:| Will hang anyone blocking oxygen supply: Delhi HC
"The need for four times more oxygen was made by the Delhi government, due to which oxygen supply to nearly 12 states was hindered because the quantity of oxygen had to be cut off from everywhere and sent to Delhi. Oxygen tankers remained on the road. Had this oxygen been used in other states, many lives could have been saved. This is a heinous crime committed by Arvind Kejriwal Ji," he added.
The BJP leader said that many people lost their lives due to oxygen shortage in Delhi hospitals and Kejriwal is responsible for all those deaths. Patra further said that it is not a small matter and Kejriwal will have to answer to the people. Urging the Supreme Court to look into the matter, he said that the Delhi CM should be held accountable and must get strict punishment. '
On the other hand, Delhi Congress Vice President Abhishek Dutt also launched a scathing attack on the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government. He alleged that Delhi MLAs and AAP leaders took advantage of the crisis and did black marketing of oxygen cylinders despite the O2 shortage in hospitals which is not right. Dutt said that if the report is correct then a case should be registered against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and strict action should be taken.
