Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service
Shimla, August 10
Dissatisfied with the reply of the government on Covid management, opposition Congress today staged a walkout in the Vidhan Sabha while Health Minister Rajiv Saizal was still replying to the debate.
The issue of Covid management during the pandemic was raised by Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Vikram Jaryal, Narinder Thakur, Vinod Kumar and Kishori Lal under Rule 130. Though the debate was initiated yesterday and a total of 17 legislators took part in it the minister replied today.
The Congress MLAs raised slogans and staged a walkout saying the minister had failed to reply to the issue.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur lashed out at the opposition for behaving in such an irresponsible manner on such a sensitive matter like Covid. "The absence of leadership in the Congress is more than evident. They are trying to politicise every matter which is highly objectionable and condemnable," he remarked.
"I admit that in Himachal too the Covid spread and there were more fatalities than expected. However, the government tried its best to tackle the situation and provide best facilities," he said.
He said in Himachal there was neither shortage of beds not oxygen. In fact, patients from other states where there was paucity of beds came to the state for treatment.
"As compared to pre-Covid time, the state had a mere 50 to 60 ventilators whose number has now gone up to 500. Similarly, the number of oxygen cylinders too has shot up from 1,200 to 7,500 to meet the escalated demand," he revealed. He added that 1,500 more oxygen cylinders were being added to the existing stock to meet any eventuality.
Thakur said it would have been better if the Congress had acted patiently and listened to the reply of the minister rather than leaving abruptly. Earlier, the health minister said all preparations to tackle the third wave were being made, especially for the children.
Courtesy: Tribune News Service