Jharkhand govt blames centre after 'failing' to manage crisis: BJP

Countering the allegation made by Jharkhand Health Minister, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Mahesh Poddar on Thursday said the state government should have written a letter to the centre or sent a special delegation to convey their grievances related to covid. "It has become routine to blame the centre if the state government failed in their work," he said.

New Delhi: Suggesting the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand government 'failed' in managing the Covid crisis in the state, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP in Rajya Sabha, Mahesh Poddar on Thursday said it should have approached the centre for any redressal of grievances.

His statement came a day after Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta accused the central government of not handling the coronavirus situation properly.

The minister also blamed the centre of not providing sufficient doses of vaccine and Remdesivir injections to the state.

Countering the allegation, Poddar said when the state fails in discharging its duty, it blames the central government's strategy.

"Media and the judiciary are highlighting the issues. The public is facing a lot of problems. Everyone knows what High Court has said in this matter. The state government should have written a letter or sent a delegation to convey their grievances. But, they have done nothing. It has become a routine job to accuse the centre whenever they fail," said Poddar to ETV Bharat.

The number of deaths due to Covid-19 has been steadily increasing in the state. In the last 24 hours, 131 people succumbed to the disease while 8,075 more people tested positive for the infection.

Meanwhile, in view of the deteriorating coronavirus situation in Jharkhand, the state government on Wednesday extended the restrictive measures for a week from 6 am on April 29.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren had on April 20 declared a seven-day lockdown-like restriction starting from April 22, saying that the period would be observed as "health safety week".