PM’s review meet: Kejriwal draws flak for live streaming
There was no instruction on live sharing, says CMO’s office
New Delhi, April 23: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s televised comments during the interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday regarding pandemic situation in the national capital and acute oxygen crisis in hospitals has triggered a row, with the Union government officials accusing him of “playing politics”.
The officials also accused him of descending to a “new low” with his decision to broadcast the “private conversation” of the meeting.
His entire speech was not meant for any solution but for playing politics and evading responsibility. All chief ministers spoke about what they are doing to improve the situation but he had nothing to say on what he is doing, a source said, suggesting that his remarks, which were made public, have not gone down well with the central government.
“He (Kejriwal) raised the point of airlifting oxygen, but did not know that it is already being done. He spoke about oxygen express by the railways but railway officials say that he has not communicated anything about it to
◗ HIS ENTIRE speech was not meant for any solution but for playing politics and evading responsibility. All chief ministers spoke about what they are doing to improve the situation but he had nothing to say on what he is doing, a source said, suggesting that his remarks, which were made public, have not gone down well with the central government.
the ministry,” the Central government source said.
Responding to the sharp reaction of the Union government officials, the chief minister’s office (CMO) issued a brief statement, saying “today, the CM address was shared live because there has never been any instruction, written or verbal, from Central govt 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.”
During the meeting, Kejriwal said the Centre should take over all oxygen plants through the Army and requested Modi to direct chief ministers of all states to ensure smooth movement of oxygen tankers coming to the national capital.
“People in major pain due to oxygen shortage. We fear a big tragedy may happen due to oxygen shortage and we will never be able to forgive ourselves. I request you with folded hands to direct all CMs to ensure smooth movement of oxygen tankers coming to Delhi,” he said during the meeting.
“We need a national plan to deal with the crisis. The Central government should take over all oxygen plants through the Army and every tanker coming out of the oxygen plant should be accompanied by an Army escort vehicle,” he said.
PM Modi held a meeting on Friday with chief ministers of 10 states with the most number of Covid-19 cases.