BJP calls for white paper on Covid-19 fatalities in Odisha
3 min read By Express News Service
BHUBANESWAR: Accusing the State authorities of under-reporting Covid-19 deaths, the BJP on Saturday demanded a white paper on the variety of folks succumbing to the lethal novel coronavirus since its outbreak in Odisha.
In a joint letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, 9 BJP MLAs alleged that the federal government has been deceptive the folks by hiding the precise knowledge on Covid casualty. Describing the suppression of reality from the general public as a cognisable offence and against the law towards humanity, the BJP regulation makers mentioned kids who’ve misplaced their dad and mom to the pandemic can be disadvantaged of the federal government welfare schemes for orphans.
“Coming under severe criticism from media over under-reporting of death figures, the government has increased the number of casualties. Odisha should follow others states like Maharashtra and revise its death figure taking into account the cremations done as per Covid guidelines across the State,” the letter mentioned.
Demanding compensation to the households of Covid deceased, Opposition Chief Whip in Odisha Assembly Mohan Majhi mentioned, “Odisha is the first State in the country to announce Covid-19 as a disaster under Disaster Management Act, 2005. The government should announce ex gratia for the families of the deceased as done by Assam, Bihar and Rajasthan governments.” Coming down closely on the federal government for ignoring repeated requests of the Centre for implementation of Ayusman Bharat Yojana, Majhi mentioned Odia folks principally migrant employees dwelling exterior the State are disadvantaged of the scheme.
The Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana couldn’t be carried out exterior Odisha due to its inherent weak point and lack of assets, he added. “The State government must implement the Ayushman Bharat Yojana without further delay and the money saved from BSKY should be better utilised to improve the health infrastructure in rural areas and posting of doctors and other paramedical staff,” he mentioned.
Cong extends assist Bhubaneswar: Congress legislator Suresh Routray on Saturday supported the BJP’s demand for a white paper on the variety of deaths within the State resulting from Covid-19. Routray mentioned Congress had raised the difficulty within the final Assembly session and demanded a white paper on the difficulty. “Besides, I had given a memorandum to the Chief Minister mentioning the names of 3,200 people who have died of Covid-19 in Khurda district. If 3,200 people died of the virus in Khurda district, you can imagine the number of death in other districts.” However, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty dismissed the allegations by saying that BJP and Congress are doing low-cost politics over a pandemic.
Protest over energy tariff hike right nowBhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar district unit of BJP will increase voice towards the stiff hike in energy tariff by way of digital mode on Sunday. Hike in energy tariff twice inside a spot of six months has hit the folks laborious. The tariff hike of 20 paise per unit in September final 12 months and one other dose of 30 paise enhance per unit in March got here when the individuals are below lockdown and combating for survival as a result of pandemic scenario, mentioned BJP Bhubaneswar district unit president Babu Singh. The silence of the federal government is baffling when it has been saying sequence of Covid packages for various sections of the inhabitants. Instead of defending the shoppers, the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) has been making an attempt to guard the curiosity of a personal firm, Singh mentioned. The saffron get together, which staged demonstration in entrance of OERC workplace in March shortly after the difficulty of tariff orders for 2021-22, has determined to register its protest towards the hike within the State Capital by way of digital mode. “We will intensify our agitation in the coming days if the government fails to intervene and file a review petition demanding withdrawal of the tariff hike,” Singh mentioned.
