Manmohan Singh tests +ve

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh tested positive for Covid-19 and was admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) with a mild fever on Monday afternoon.

Singh, 88, has been admitted to the AIIMS trauma centre, which is a dedicated Covid-19 facility, officials said, adding his condition is stable. They said Singh had a mild fever in the morning and later tested positive for Covid-19. The doctors are monitoring his condition, officials said. Singh had taken both the doses of Covid-19 vaccine.

THE CONGRESS HIT BACK AT VARDHAN, SAYING HIS LETTER TO SINGH WAS A CHEAP RETORT LACKING IN GRACE

Union health minister Harsh Vardhan attacked the Congress on Monday in his response to former prime minister Manmohan Singh’s letter to PM Narendra Modi on the government’s Covid-19 vaccine strategy, prompting a sharp response from the principal opposition party.

A day after Singh offered five suggestions to Modi on vaccine management, Vardhan, in an uncharacteristic letter, alleged the Congress showed “extraordinary interest in spreading falsehood regarding the efficacy of these vaccines”, “fuelled vaccine hesitancy” and “played with the lives of countrymen.”

Posting the letter on social media, the minister said, “History shall be kinder to you Dr Manmohan Singh Ji if your offer of ‘constructive cooperation’ and valuable advice was followed by your Congress leaders as well in such extraordinary times.”

In his three-page response, Vardhan said it was “saddening” that Singh’s understanding of the importance of vaccines was not shared by people in the Congress.

“With due respect, and irrespective of the negativity that your party spreads, we take your suggestions at face value and with the belief that they are made keeping national interest in mind. However, it does seem that those who drafted your letter or advised you, have done a great disservice to your standing by misleading you regarding material that is already in public domain,” said the minister.

The Congress hit back, with party leader Ashok Chavan demanding an apology, and calling the letter a cheap retort lacking in grace.

Party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate dismissed the allegation that Congress-ruled states created vaccine hesitancy.

“It’s a natural concern and despite being a doctor, it is sad that the minister labelled it as a politically fuelled hesitancy.”

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot hit out at Vardhan for his “politically motivated” response.

“It is unfortunate and condemnable of the health minister to have written a politically motivated reply to the former prime minister,” he tweeted.