PM Modi holds meet with CMs on O2

Delhi chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal apologises for live-streaming the meeting

As a severe crisis for medical oxygen builds up across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged states and UTs to be strict with hoarding and black marketing of essential medicines, injections and oxygen. During a meeting with the chief ministers of 11 states and UTs which have reported the maximum number of cases, the PM said that the Central government is working on all possible options to reduce the travel and turnaround time of oxygen tankers. For this, Railways has started “Oxygen Express” and empty oxygen tankers are also being transported by the Indian Air Force to reduce one-way travel time.

He added that the Centre has provided more than 15 crore doses of essential medicines to the states free of cost and safety of hospitals should not be neglected. He further said awareness must be increased to alleviate panic purchasing of medicines. Interestingly, some part of the meeting was televised at Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s end, which the PM did not appreciate. Terming the conduct “inappropriate,” PM said this is the first time a CM has broken protocol and live streamed a meeting. Mr Kejriwal apologised to the PM but his office issued a statement, saying, “The CM address was

shared live because there has never been any instruction, written or verbal, from the Central government that the said interaction could not be shared live.”

“There have been multiple occasions of similar interactions where matters of public importance which had no confidential information were shared live. However, if any inconvenience was caused we highly regret that,” Delhi CMO said even as the Central government accused Mr Kejriwal of playing politics over oxygen.

During his interaction with the PM, Mr Kejriwal raised alarm that a “big tragedy” may happen due to oxygen shortage in Delhi hospitals and the Centre should take over all oxygen plants through the Army. He requested the PM to direct the chief ministers of all states to ensure the smooth movement of oxygen tankers coming to Delhi. The chief minister also objected to different rates being charged from state governments and the Centre for the Covid-19 vaccine, and said “one nation, one rate” policy should be followed.

Meanwhile, noting that the virus is affecting several states as well as Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities at once, PM assured the Centre’s full support to all states. He added that the ministry of health is monitoring the situation closely and issuing necessary advice to states from time to time.

On oxygen supply, PM Modi took note of the points raised by the states and said there is continuous effort to increase the oxygen supply. He added that every state should ensure that no oxygen tanker, meant for any state, is stopped or gets stranded. He also urged the states to set up a highlevel coordination committee to carry oxygen to different hospitals of the state. This committee should ensure that as soon as there is allotment of oxygen from the Centre, it can deliver Oxygen as per requirement in different hospitals of the state immediately.

Expressing grief on recent incidents of oxygen leakage and fire at hospitals, PM Modi said the administrative staff of the hospital needs to be made more aware about the safety protocols. PM Modi also urged the administration to continuously make people aware so that they do not indulge in panic buying.