Rahul’s Bharat Jodo yatra on Covid watch, Congress cries politics

By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: A political slugfest broke out Wednesday after Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya wrote to Rahul Gandhi, asking him to make sure Covid-19 pointers are adopted in the course of the Bharat Jodo Yatra or to droop it in “national interest,” with the Congress taking over the BJP, and accused it of enjoying “politics.” 

In his letter dated December 20, the minister requested the Congress chief to make sure Covid pointers, together with masks and sanitisers, are strictly adopted, and solely these vaccinated are allowed to take part within the Yatra.

“If Covid protocol cannot be followed, then, given the public health emergency, and to save the country from the Covid pandemic, I request you to suspend the Bharat Jodo Yatra in the national interest,” the minister additional mentioned in his letter.

Reacting to the letter, Congress MP and normal secretary Jairam Ramesh mentioned, “Public health is far too serious an issue to play party politics. If there is a  protocol for gatherings, Bharat Jodo Yatra will abide by it.” Later talking with reporters, the minister mentioned it’s his “duty to ensure Covid doesn’t spread in the country.”

He mentioned in the course of the Yatra, “several” folks obtained contaminated with Covid-19, and that’s why he wrote to Rahul Gandhi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. He was referring to Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu getting contaminated with Covid-19 for example. 

“Congress’s reaction shows their callous attitude towards Covid. If someone thinks about how a minister can question them (Rahul Gandhi), what can I do about that mindset? Questioning me is like obstructing me from doing my duty,” he added.

Though, Covid-19 circumstances in India have declined prior to now few weeks, issues have been raised following the worldwide outbreak, particularly in China, the US and East Asia. 

The minister mentioned he wrote to Rahul Gandhi after three Rajasthan MPs wrote to him, elevating issues concerning the unfold of Covid-19 within the state. “Keeping this in mind, I took the view of experts, and on that basis, I wrote to Rahuji that many who took part in the Yatra have been detected with Covid-19.”

“I have written the letter as a health minister to ensure people are healthy. But they are coming to the protection of one family, and thus I am being questioned about how I have written such a letter,” Mandaviya later instructed reporters.

Congress took on the well being minister, saying that the centre has not issued any advisory on Covid-19.

In a press release, Ramesh mentioned that the well being minister has written to Rahul Gandhi based mostly on a letter despatched to him by a BJP MP from Rajasthan who alleges that Bharat Jodo Yatra has not been following Covid protocols.

“This MP’s letter was sent following the enormous success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in his state. Parliament is meeting typically. Masks are no longer compulsory anywhere, including on flights. BJP has taken out yatras in Rajasthan and Karnataka. There has been no advisory from the Centre to states of late except the one issued yesterday on genome sequencing.” 

“It also bears recall that in March 2020, the Modi government delayed imposition of lockdown by at least a week to enable the toppling of the Congress government in MP,” he mentioned. 

The Yatra has now entered Haryana on Wednesday and can then proceed to Delhi on December 24.

The Yatra, which started from Kanyakumari on September 7, marked its 100 days on Friday, in the course of the twelfth day of its Rajasthan leg. The yatra has coated elements of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. It will finish in Jammu and Kashmir on January 26.

ALSO READ | Why simply Bharat Jodo Yatra? Congress questions Mandaviya

NEW DELHI: A political slugfest broke out Wednesday after Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya wrote to Rahul Gandhi, asking him to make sure Covid-19 pointers are adopted in the course of the Bharat Jodo Yatra or to droop it in “national interest,” with the Congress taking over the BJP, and accused it of enjoying “politics.” 

In his letter dated December 20, the minister requested the Congress chief to make sure Covid pointers, together with masks and sanitisers, are strictly adopted, and solely these vaccinated are allowed to take part within the Yatra.

“If Covid protocol cannot be followed, then, given the public health emergency, and to save the country from the Covid pandemic, I request you to suspend the Bharat Jodo Yatra in the national interest,” the minister additional mentioned in his letter.

Reacting to the letter, Congress MP and normal secretary Jairam Ramesh mentioned, “Public health is far too serious an issue to play party politics. If there is a  protocol for gatherings, Bharat Jodo Yatra will abide by it.” Later talking with reporters, the minister mentioned it’s his “duty to ensure Covid doesn’t spread in the country.”

He mentioned in the course of the Yatra, “several” folks obtained contaminated with Covid-19, and that’s why he wrote to Rahul Gandhi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. He was referring to Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu getting contaminated with Covid-19 for example. 

“Congress’s reaction shows their callous attitude towards Covid. If someone thinks about how a minister can question them (Rahul Gandhi), what can I do about that mindset? Questioning me is like obstructing me from doing my duty,” he added.

Though, Covid-19 circumstances in India have declined prior to now few weeks, issues have been raised following the worldwide outbreak, particularly in China, the US and East Asia. 

The minister mentioned he wrote to Rahul Gandhi after three Rajasthan MPs wrote to him, elevating issues concerning the unfold of Covid-19 within the state. “Keeping this in mind, I took the view of experts, and on that basis, I wrote to Rahuji that many who took part in the Yatra have been detected with Covid-19.”

“I have written the letter as a health minister to ensure people are healthy. But they are coming to the protection of one family, and thus I am being questioned about how I have written such a letter,” Mandaviya later instructed reporters.

Congress took on the well being minister, saying that the centre has not issued any advisory on Covid-19.

In a press release, Ramesh mentioned that the well being minister has written to Rahul Gandhi based mostly on a letter despatched to him by a BJP MP from Rajasthan who alleges that Bharat Jodo Yatra has not been following Covid protocols.

“This MP’s letter was sent following the enormous success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in his state. Parliament is meeting typically. Masks are no longer compulsory anywhere, including on flights. BJP has taken out yatras in Rajasthan and Karnataka. There has been no advisory from the Centre to states of late except the one issued yesterday on genome sequencing.” 

“It also bears recall that in March 2020, the Modi government delayed imposition of lockdown by at least a week to enable the toppling of the Congress government in MP,” he mentioned. 

The Yatra has now entered Haryana on Wednesday and can then proceed to Delhi on December 24.

The Yatra, which started from Kanyakumari on September 7, marked its 100 days on Friday, in the course of the twelfth day of its Rajasthan leg. The yatra has coated elements of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. It will finish in Jammu and Kashmir on January 26.

ALSO READ | Why simply Bharat Jodo Yatra? Congress questions Mandaviya