*Trigger Warning: Covid Death*
Centre vs. State: The Cause Of Turmoil
The plight of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is that his powers are snatched from him by the Central government time and again. That before the Centre made Delhi citizens gasp for breath; it had been doing the same with the Delhi government for years. This time the true colours of the BJP ruled Central government came to show as they limited the allocation/supply of oxygen to the capital city, adding to the woes of the general public.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court has warned the Centre of contempt case if Delhi doesn’t get oxygen. This is the situation of the country right now. Two governments are not being able to cooperate as the city chokes.
The Delhi government has rightfully called it out as an ego issue of the Centre that is acting as a barrier to the crises’ response. Sadly in the fight between the two, the general public is on the receiving end.
Where Did CM Kejriwal Go Wrong This Time?
As much as the CM is blaming the Centre, his government is equally responsible for the chaos in the system. He was driven by his false bravado that everything in Delhi was as PM Modi says, “Changa si”. At the same time, there is nothing pleasant as much as was for the show.
As awarded author Arundhati Roy pens, “The system hasn’t collapsed. The government has failed. Perhaps ‘failed’ is an inaccurate word, because what we are witnessing is not criminal negligence, but an outright crime against humanity.” The system barely existed.
The Delhi government had been winning elections so far by advertising brilliantly on how the Delhi model was taken up by the Western countries. Healthcare, as many felt, had improved with the incoming of Mohalla clinics through the veins and arteries of the city. But does the oxygen flow through them anymore?
The answers bluntly expose the reality of the claims made by CM that Delhi was, as Modi says, “Aatmanirbhar”. It is not!
The lack of foresightedness of the Delhi government to tackle this second deadly wave of the Coronavirus is causing countless deaths. And he is still happily congratulating Mamata Banerjee on winning Bengal. It shows his lack of insensitivity and it only adds insult to the injury.
I understand that a small wish doesn’t hurt anyone, but talk to those who have lost their loved ones. They would absolutely want Kejriwal, whom they entrusted as their “Elder Son” to at least share their grief and prioritise Delhi for now.
Whether it is by fighting with the Centre for dire necessities or by setting up new medical facilities out of his own accord, every move of the leader is watched and commented upon now. I hope he’s listening to the wails of help and his social media teams also get to realise what Delhites are going through. It’s a humanitarian crisis, not a game of bettering social media insights.
Lack Of Foresight Cost Us Lives!
What triggers me out of bounds is the insensitivity the AAP leadership has brought to the fore. I read continuously in newspapers that Satyendra Jain, Delhi’s Health Minister, paid no heed to the rising Covid cases in the capital.
On being asked about lockdown or precautionary measures taken by the government in the wake of the virus, he just replied: “Lockdown isn’t a solution. Learn to live with the virus.” This one instance was on 27 March, a day later, after Delhi registered 1,534 fresh cases. Do the numbers not worry you, Mr Health Minister of Delhi?
Surprisingly Mr Jain has been missing from action lately. He’s nowhere to be seen and no one is asking him now, “Is the lockdown not a solution?” Finally, your eyes opened when SOS calls/tweets went out on Twitter asking for HELP when you weren’t in a position to deliver.
Last week the High Court slammed the Delhi government, saying, “Set your house in order. Enough is enough. If you cannot manage it, tell us, then we will ask the central government to send their officers in and do it. We will ask them to take over. We cannot let people die like this.”
Much more to my dismay is the fact that the government went all deaf to the critical condition of Maharashtra due to the virus. Until and unless the country is Covid free, until and unless everyone gets the jab; sir’s, how can you be so careless? Is this your Delhi model being adopted by the world? It better not be.
The world needs to live and breathe peacefully. Unlike Delhi, where black-marketing of oxygen cylinders/cans and medicines are on another level of helplessness. Do you have a Helpline number for these medical requirements in place — to advertise outside your Mohalla clinics — or to highlight across your social media accounts now?
Say something, speak up. You’re playing on the same lines as PM Modi, who wants to be the Messiah figure for the entire country. You too are working tirelessly to enhance your political reach and win more states. Congratulations to your Mamata didi for winning Bengal, but YOU HAVE FAILED DELHI.