BHOPAL: Former CM Kamal Nath on Thursday said relatives of deceased Covid patients would never forgive the state government for claiming that no death occurred due to oxygen shortage.
Nath was reacting to the Union government’s statement in Parliament on Tuesday that states had not reported any Covid death due to shortage of oxygen.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Nath accused the BJP governments at the Centre and state of “suppressing and hiding” Covid data. The government is shying away from taking the real numbers of deaths from crematoriums and burial grounds, he said.
“When I revealed the real data on Corona deaths in the state and exposed the lies of the government, they registered an FIR against me. The government can lodge more FIRs against me, but I still maintain that hundreds of patients died because of the shortage of oxygen. Many deaths were not even brought on record,” said Nath.
The veteran Congress leader recalled that many hospitals in the districts had put up boards that said they were unable to admit patients because of shortage of oxygen. “Patients were made to sign bonds that in case of death because of shortage of oxygen, they would be responsible. Many hospitals discharged Covid patients because of lack of oxygen. We have seen long queues of people waiting for oxygen. I have arranged oxygen for several districts in the state,” Nath said.
It was only after these incidents that the government woke up and announced setting up of oxygen plants across the state, Nath said. “Now Shivraj Singh Chouhan says that no one died because of the shortage of oxygen. This seems like a cruel joke on the relatives of victims,” Nath remarked. “Why is the government running away from the truth? Why is the government not accepting that because of its mismanagement and shortage of oxygen, many patients lost their lives?” he asked.
In a statement on Thursday evening, Nath said, “People in Madhya Pradesh have witnessed deaths of patients due to lack of oxygen in the second wave in many districts, including Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Ujjain, Sagar, Khandwa, Shahdol, Morena and Chhattarpur. We have seen people running from pillar-to-post with oxygen cylinders, the furore in hospitals because of shortage of oxygen, and people spending sleepless nights waiting for the arrival of oxygen.”
“Every victim’s family has undergone the hardships of the oxygen shortage. I and the Congress party stood by the families of such victims, still stand by them and will continue to do so. Those who lost their dear ones will never forgive this untruthful and cruel government,” he said.
