Maharashtra minister accuses PM Modi of being busy in elections while “people are dying; Check PMO's reply

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s office (CMO) on Saturday, April 17, released a statement mentioning that the CM had called PM Narendra Modi over the shortage of oxygen and Remdesivir, a drug for COVID-19 treatment, in the state. However, Thackeray was told that PM Modi could not speak as he was on a campaign tour of West Bengal.

As per a statement by Maharashtra CMO, the PM office has informed them that PM Modi will get in touch with them regarding the same. But, CM Thackeray has not received a call from PM Modi yet.

Meanwhile, Nawab Malik in a veiled attack accused Modi of being busy in elections while “people are dying.”

It is sad & shocking that when Government of Maharashtra asked the 16 export companies for #Remdesivir, we were told that Central Government has asked them not to supply the medicine to #Maharashtra.
These companies were warned, if they did, their license will be cancelled(1/2)

— Nawab Malik نواب ملک नवाब मलिक (@nawabmalikncp) April 17, 2021

in his attack, Mailk mentioned that the Government of Maharashtra had tried to connect with as many as 16 export companies for Remdesivir but they were turned away stating that the Central Government has asked them not to supply the medicine to the state. He also mentioned that the companies had been warned that their license would be cancelled if they disobeyed this instruction. 

Nawab Malik’s statement comes at a time when political parties in West Bengal have been holding public rallies with large gatherings with each party training guns at the other over the spread of the coronavirus disease in the state.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), however, refuted Malik’s allegation saying PM Modi himself reviewed the state of oxygen supply on Friday, April 17 amid surging COVID-19 cases and that the government is in constant touch with the state governments.

In his recent letter to PM Modi, Thackeray had said the medical oxygen requirement in the state is projected to reach 2,000 metric tonnes per day by April-end from the present consumption of 1,200 MT per day.

In another letter on April 17, Thackeray had urged PM Modi to declare the coronavirus pandemic as a natural calamity and sought some financial assistance from the Central government for those affected.