Modi government is responsible for the COVID situation in India – Lancet. Photo Courtesy – Reuters
The Bharatiya Janata Party wanted to highlight Narendra Modi as a world leader in controlling the COVID-19 infection all over the world. But, it has become a boomerang after the second wave of COVID-19 hit like a tsunami and the way the death march started across the country. The situation drew strong criticism from the international community. The Lancet criticized India’s Prime Minister and said, “Modi government is responsible for the present COVID situation in India.”
The Lancet has been a popular and trusted medical journal for more than half a century. Many medical research topics are considered important when published in this journal. This time the editorial of that Lancet has sharply criticized on the COVID-19 disaster in India. “The manner in which Prime Minister Modi has come down to prevent criticism and open discussion on the COVID-19 disaster is unforgivable,” it said.
The report, citing figures from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation Estimates, said that the death toll in COVID-19 in India could cross one million by August 1, 2021. If this would happen, the Modi government would be responsible for the catastrophe.
According to the Lancet report, India had initial success in tackling COVID-19. But, the government’s task force has not called regular monthly meetings for a long time. The consequences are before our very eyes. Now it is up to India to redesign its tactics.
The political experts say that when Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, his administration was praised in the international press. He emerged in national politics using those comments as a tool. Modi used to criticize the Manmohan Singh government at the Center frequently. As a result, it is like a repetition of history. Now, international observers have blamed him for the COVID-19 disaster in India.
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This criticism of the global journal Lancet is a big blow to the Modi government. The Lancet writes, “In the current situation, the government should admit their mistakes and errors and after that, he should go to deal with COVID-19 with transparency. The basis of that tactic should be science.”
This condition is like ‘swallowing of a mole by a snake’ for the BJP government. Since the COVID-19 infection started in India, some leaders of the ruling party at the Center have sometimes suggested drinking ‘cow’s urine‘, and sometimes eating ‘Bhabhi Ji Papad’. After some days, it was seen that they were the ones who got infected with COVID-19. There is no scientific basis for such statements on behalf of the people’s representatives, but it has misled the people. The Lancet has pointed the finger of blame at them.
Criticizing the Modi government, the journal said that when the second wave started in early March, Indian Health Minister Harsh Vardhan was heard to say that the country was on the verge of COVID-19 extinction. According to his words, the end game has begun. Religious ceremonies have been allowed despite the risk of super spreaders.
Not only that, they allowed huge political meetings in several parts of the country. The assembly election was held at 5 states in India – Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry with full of gatherings and meetings. The Bharatiya Janata Party tried hard to grasp the power in those states. But, they could maintain its influence in Assam and Puducherry only. The BJP left no stone unturned to come to the power in West Bengal involving multiple cabinet ministers to address multiple meetings there. Their focus was shifted to winning assembly elections in several states, rather than on the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Lancet also criticized India’s immunization policy. According to them, the vaccination process was not properly planned. Even 2% of the country’s population could not be vaccinated. The Modi government was more concerned with curbing criticism on Twitter than confronting COVID-19.
Shalini Gupta is a teacher at New Delhi with multifarious talents. She has a deep passion for reading, writing, drawing, sketching etc. simultaneously with her teaching job. She is currently writing for Bigumbrella also.
