Mumbai: The BJP's alleged interference in the supply chain of life-saving Remdesivir drug has stoked a huge controversy in Maharashtra and Gujarat.
The Mumbai Police had on Saturday night received information about the storage and export of Remdesivir at Daman-based pharmaceutical company 'Bruck Pharma Pvt Ltd'. Police claimed that Rajesh Dokaniya, owner of the pharmaceutical company, was trying to export 60,000 vials of the drug despite an export ban. They grilled him in this regard for at least 45 minutes at the Vile Parle police station here. The BJP was in touch with the company over the supplies of Remdesivir vials in Maharashtra.
Later, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra legislative council Pravin Darekar, MLA Parag Alavani and MLC Prasad Lad landed at the Bandra-Kurla Complex police station and indulged in an argument with a police officer over the questing of Dokaniya.
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Remdesivir, a key anti-viral drug in the fight against COVID-19, is supposed to be distributed through government machinery. When several states have been complaining about its shortage, the BJP as a party purchasing several thousand vials of the drug in order to "donate", has caused a stir in the political arena.
A few days ago, the Gujarat unit of the BJP had distributed the drug free of cost. In another incident reported a few days ago, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari procured 10,000 Remdesivir vials for Nagpur city from Sun Pharma.
India-based Bruck Pharma Pvt Ltd is a major exporter of Remdesivir, which is in massive demand across the world post the outbreak of the second COVID-19 wave.
Speaking to the media, Fadnavis lashed out at the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra for indulging in a "shameful act". "When we are fighting against COVID and people are losing their lives because of the pandemic, the government is indulging in such shameful acts. They detained the owner of Bruck Pharma. The company had taken all necessary permissions from the Maharashtra government and the Daman administration. Even Union Chemical and Fertilizer Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had asked the company to provide maximum vials of the drug to Maharashtra. But the state government is indulging in cheap politics," he said.
Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil alleged the BJP for interfering in police duty. "We will not tolerate such acts from the Opposition parties. A detailed investigation into the Saturday incident will be held," he said.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi wondered how people in responsible positions could involve in such an "act against humanity" when people are running door to door for Remdesivir.
Watch: Not afraid of inquiry: Fadnavis on pharma firm-Remdesivir issue
"If this isn’t backstabbing the people of Maharashtra for his cheap politics then what is? A leader of opposition is hoarding an emergency drug procured secretly&when seized fights with Mumbai Police. Shame Mr Fadnavis. Your midnight shenanigans were exposed once and now again (sic)," Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi tweeted.
Earlier, Maharashtra Minority Minister and NCP Spokesperson Nawab Malik had tweeted a letter of Gujarat Food and Drug administration and claimed that Gujarat had received more supply of Remdesivir vials than Maharashtra, proving the Centre's step-motherly treatment.
In a bid to seize power in Maharashtra, the Modi-government has threatened to revoke the licenses of the exporters, ordering them not to supply injections to the exporters. This is reprehensible and a disgrace to humanity, accused Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary Sachin Sawant.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal also tweeted, "Just yesterday, PM in his review told that centre & states should work with synergy in this crisis. With this background, shocked and saddened to see petty politics being played by @OfficeOfUT. He needs to stop his daily dose of shameless politics and take responsibility. Reassured Uddhav Thackeray of adequate & uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen, said Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan (sic)."
