Modi government has failed people of India: Sonia Gandhi

New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi has criticised the Modi-led central government for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that the system had not failed but that the Modi government had failed the citizens of the country.

Gandhi also demanded that an all-party meeting on the COVID-19 situation be convened immediately.

She urged prime minister Modi to "urgently call an all-party meeting" to address the COVID-19 situation.

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“India is wracked by a deadly health crisis. Thousands of people have died, and millions more are in desperate need of basic treatment, life-saving medicines, oxygen and vaccines. Seeing people fighting for their lives in hospitals, on the sidewalks, or in cars is heartbreaking," said Gandhi.

“What is the government of Narendra Modi doing? Rather than alleviating misery and pain, it has shied away from basic responsibilities and obligations to the people," she added.

India is battling a devastating second wave of Covid infections.

Over four lakh new cases were registered over the past 24 hours.

Patients are facing acute shortage of hospital beds, medications and oxygen.

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Gandhi added, “Instead of assisting needy patients, some BJP-led governments have used the state's coercive power to target civic groups who are attempting to assist them. On the other hand, they are putting pressure on social media sites and the media to hide the truth."

The centre was also chastised for its vaccine pricing policy, which permitted manufacturers to charge up to 700% more for doses sold to private hospitals and states.

The centre has been accused of "vaccine profiteering" by the Congress, but the accusation has been denied by the centre.

Gandhi said, the parliament set aside Rs.35,000 crores in the union budget to ensure that everybody receives free vaccine.

Nonetheless, the Modi government has added to the strain on already overburdened state governments.

It has made it possible to charge variable prices for COVID-19 vaccines.

Gandhi also said that the BJP's performance was "very disappointing" last month.

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