Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur)

BJP ACCUSES GOVT OF HIDING COVID DEATH FIGURES

- HT Correspond­ent

BJP leaders have accused the Congress government in Rajasthan of hiding the actual number of Covid deaths.

“Neither the condition of hospitals in Rajasthan improved nor the staff was deployed. They also did not set up oxygen plants. Black marketing of medicines and beds continued. Patients kept dying at hospital doors and you (govt) continue hiding the death figures. 50% vaccinatio­n was your responsibi­lity, but you continue to mislead the state people. They will never forgive you,” state BJP president Satish Poonia said on Tuesday.

According to the health department data, 7,806 people have died due to Covid-19 in Rajasthan till date.

However, a local daily paper report states that the state government claims 3,918 deaths from April 1 to May 20 in 25 rural districts, but the survey by the paper found the number to be 14,482.

Poonia said the state is discouragi­ng testing for Covid-19, which supports two thoughts – avoid panic among people and hide the government’s failure. “It is obvious that increasing deaths are due to corona,” he said.

Deputy leader of the Opposition, Rajendra Rathore tweeted that before suggesting the centre government on Covid issue, chief minister Ashok Gehlot should stop hiding the actual number of deaths in rural areas due to the virus infection.

Reacting over the issue, Congress spokespers­on Archana Sharma said, “BJP instead of criticisin­g the state government should support it in getting vaccine from the centre. The state government is doing its best to save the lives of people.”

Rajaram Jain, founder of Karamyogi Seva Sanstha of Kota, which provides facilities of performing last rites in the city, said that nearly 1,250 were cremated between April 14 and May 14 this year, of whom more than 50% bodies were of Covid-19 patients since they were cremated as per the Covid protocols. “Funeral of 48 bodies was done in a single day on April 24 at Kishorepur­a crematoriu­m in Kota, which speaks volumes of Covid-19 mayhem,” he said.

The caretaker of Kota’s biggest crematoriu­m in Kishorepur­a, Moid Anwar (31) said that nearly 800 funerals took place in April-may months this year, of which nearly 400 were Covid deaths.

Since the beginning of the second Covid-19 wave, 155 Covid positive bodies were cremated at a crematoriu­m in Barmer, according to Bhawani Singh Shekhawat, secretary, Samshan Vikas Samiti. JAIPUR:

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