On August 28, Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister, Delhi, introduced suggestions for Padma awards. He mentioned that the committee led by Deputy CM Manish Sisodia acquired over 9,400 solutions. The committee has shortlisted “the names of three doctors- Dr SK Sarin from ILBS, Dr Suresh Kumar from LNJP, and Dr Sandeep Budhiraja from Max Hospital for Padma Awards”, he mentioned.
Controversy over names recommended by Kejriwal
The names recommended by Kejriwal have attracted criticism from the netizens because the three docs really useful by him had pushed Aam Aadmi Party’s narrative over oxygen requirement in Delhi. On April 20, 2021, Dr SK Sarin had mentioned, “There is an acute shortage of oxygen in Delhi. The demand is about 700 metric tonnes, but we are getting close to just 300. There is a huge gap.”
Tweet by NDTV quoting Dr Sarin. Source: Twitter
On April 24, 2021, Dr Suresh Kumar pushed the narrative additional and mentioned, “All ICU beds at our hospital are full for the last 4-5 days. Some critical patients need 40-50ltr of oxygen per minute to maintain oxygen saturation level. The oxygen supply chain is compromised.”
Tweet by ANI quoting Dr Suresh. Source: Twitter
In June 2021, when the Interim Report on the audit of medical oxygen demand and consumption in Delhi ready by a Supreme Court-appointed committee got here to public mild, it was clear that the oxygen demand may need been exaggerated by the Delhi Government.
The report pushed Dr Sandeep Budhiraja to return to the rescue of the AAP-led authorities. He had claimed that he and Bhupinder S Bhalla, principal secretary (dwelling), Delhi authorities weren’t in settlement with among the key findings of the report that had recommended that the Delhi authorities had “grossly overstated” the medical oxygen necessities throughout Covid-19 second wave.
He alleged that he had sought modifications and additions within the interim draft report. Hindustan Times, in its report, said that in a letter written by Dr Budhiraja, he had identified that the minutes of the May 15 assembly weren’t shared with the panel for approval because of this, he didn’t attend an vital assembly on May 18.
SK Sarin is a Padma Awardee
Interestingly, one of many nominees really useful by the Delhi Government is a Padma Awardee. Dr Shiv Kumar Sarin had acquired Padma Bhushan Award, the third-highest civilian India award, in 2007. It is unclear for which Padma Award Kejriwal authorities has really useful his title.
Screenshot from https://padmaawards.gov.in/
Reaction by netizens
Several netizens raised objections over the nominations. Nayan mentioned, “Remember Oxygen shortage propaganda? Some hospitals and doctors helped Arvind Kejriwal and gang to peddle this narrative then backtracked in the court the time asked to file it on affidavit. same team.”
Remember Oxygen scarcity propaganda ? Some hospitals and docs helped @ArvindKejriwal and gang to hawk this narrative then backtracked within the court docket the time requested to file it on affidavit..identical group .. @mansukhmandviya https://t.co/5wjnmBU9GQ— : NayaN : (@nayanchandra) August 29, 2021
Kartikay shared how three docs favoured the AAP authorities throughout the Covid-19 wave and helped in organising the narrative that there was a scarcity of oxygen in Delhi.
The names he recommends for Padma Awards.The names which made information in April-May.Just leaving it right here with none remark. pic.twitter.com/JyVxpOXeUn— Kartikeya Tanna (@KartikeyaTanna) August 29, 2021
BeFittingFacts identified Dr Sarin has already awarded with Padma Bhushan.
Kejriwal despatched the title of Dr. S Okay Saring for Padma Awards, he already had acquired one. All media revealed Kejriwal’s declare however nobody talked about it. 🤷🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/OcCfl53Ozq— Facts (@BefittingFacts) August 29, 2021
Delhi Government’s mismanagement throughout the second wave of Covid-19
Notably, Kejriwal’s authorities got here below the scanner throughout and after the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic over the alleged mismanagement of medical oxygen. It was additionally alleged that the Delhi authorities didn’t take proactive steps to get the oxygen provide so as and repair the disaster. Rather, Kejriwal and his group hung out issuing statements towards the union authorities and neighbouring states.
During a listening to in Delhi High Court, it was revealed that even after a month the second wave had began, the Arvind Kejriwal authorities had not organized a single tanker to move medical oxygen allotted by the centre. The hospitals in Delhi had been being provided by the suppliers like Inox utilizing their very own tankers, however further tankers had been wanted to gather oxygen allotted from different vegetation in close by states, which was the duty of the state govt. The Delhi High court docket had slammed the Delhi authorities for the mismanagement in April.
When Indian Railways began the Oxygen Express initiative, a number of states, together with Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, despatched requests for the trains instantly, however the Kejriwal-led Delhi authorities sat idle for over every week. His authorities additionally failed to rearrange a storage facility for the additional oxygen required by the state hospitals. As a consequence, tankers had been left stranded for hours, ready for authorities to get them emptied in order that they may head again to the oxygen vegetation. Additionally, because of the lack of oxygen storage facility, Delhi lifted lesser oxygen than required.
The allocation of oxygen was mismanaged to a degree that the suppliers needed to strategy Delhi High Court to know to which hospitals they need to provide. Reportedly, some hospitals weren’t even on the lists, depriving them of oxygen as suppliers had been to distribute oxygen solely to these hospitals which had been allotted to them. All the mismanagement created by the Delhi authorities gave a possibility to the black entrepreneurs. Allegedly Delhi authorities didn’t take sufficient steps to curb the black advertising and marketing of medical oxygen and different important life-saving medicine or gear. Delhi High Court had slammed the Delhi authorities for failing to curb black advertising and marketing.