In a blistering counter-attack, the Congress' Maharashtra unit on Tuesday alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states like Gujarat are suppressing Covid-19 data and indulging in politics during the ongoing pandemic.
While Gujarat is not conducting enough Covid-19 tests, all BJP-administered states in the country are concealing the real coronavirus data, state party Spokesperson and General Secretary Sachin Sawant claimed.
"The Gujarat High Court has lambasted the Gujarat healthcare system terming the hospitals there as worse than dungeons and compared the situation to a sinking ship like 'Titanic'. The situation is near-identical in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh," Sawant told media persons.
Taking a swipe at Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis, the Congress leader advised his BJP to "first look at the failed Gujarat model" before criticising this state.
He pointed out that the Gujarat HC had taken suo moto cognizance of a doctor's complaint and come down heavily on the Gujarat healthcare system which is paralysed, exposing the inefficiency of the BJP government there.
Adding to this was the state Advocate-General's submission to the court that "more tests may lead to 70 per cent of the population testing Covid-19 positive, thereby creating a fear psychosis among the people".
With the current population of Ahmedabad estimated to be 78 lakh, and with 70 per cent potentially Covid-19 positive, there could be a minimum 40 lakh patients only in that city, Sawant said, adding the BJP has no right to criticise the Maharashtra government.
"In Maharashtra, the government is working scientifically, not indulging in clapping, lighting lamps or clanging plates. The situation is tough now, but when the Opposition points it out, the government takes suitable steps. Corona is the enemy of humanity, but the power-hungry BJP leaders in the state and Centre consider the state government as its enemy," said Sawant sharply.
Against this, he recalled how the entire state including the (then) Opposition Congress-Nationalist Congress Party stood by Fadnavis when he was the state CM, though his party president Chandrakant Patil made irresponsible statements then.
In the same vein, Sawant urged the BJP leaders including Fadnavis, Narayan Rane and Subramaniam Swamy to cooperate with the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, arrange for funds to be released from the Centre, more trains for migrants and other forms of assistance in public interest.
( With inputs from IANS )