Opacity in PM Cares Fund putting lives at risk: Rahul Gandhi

The Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund was arrange in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Congress on Sunday accused the federal government of “wasting” the lockdown by not ramping up well being infrastructure and procuring “substandard” ventilators which might be essential for essential COVID-19 sufferers, with Rahul Gandhi charging that “opacity” within the PM Cares Fund is placing lives of Indians in danger.

Using the hashtag “BJPfailsCoronaFight”, Gandhi tweeted, “PMCares opacity is: 1. Putting Indian lives at risk. 2. Ensuring public money is used to buy sub-standard products.”

He additionally tagged a information report a few non-public agency offering substandard ventilators, procured utilizing the PM Cares Fund.

The Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund was arrange in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged a “scam” within the buy of ventilators.

“The ‘Ventilators’ Scam! Out of Rs 2,000 crore allocated for 50,000 ventilators, only 1,340 ventilators delivered till 23rd June. No open tendering. Inferior Quality. Purchase Price of Rs 4 Lakh instead of quoted price of Rs 1.5 Lakh per ventilator,” he mentioned in a tweet.

Congress spokesperson Gaurav Vallabh questioned the federal government why only one,340 ventilators might be procured until June 22 whereas it had positioned order for 50,000 on March 31.

At a digital press convention, he expressed concern over the rise in coronavirus infections within the nation and accused the federal government of “wasting time” by not utilising the lockdown interval to ramp up the well being infrastructure.

He mentioned the precise procurement is in opposition to the declare made by BJP president J P Nadda that the nation could have 60,000 ventilators by June-end.

Vallabh additionally alleged “confusion and delay” in ordering ventilators, “financial impropriety” and lack of transparency in spending PM Cares Fund, and provide of “substandard” ventilators.

With a report single-day surge of 24,850 coronavirus infections and 613 fatalities, India’s COVID-19 case load zoomed to six,73,165, whereas the demise toll as a result of illness climbed to 19,268 on Sunday, in keeping with the Union well being ministry.

With this, the nation has recorded over 20,000 circumstances of the an infection for the third consecutive day.

According to Johns Hopkins University, which has been compiling COVID-19 knowledge from everywhere in the world, India is the fourth worst-hit nation by the pandemic after the US, Brazil and Russia and on the eighth place by way of the demise toll as a result of illness.

“The way the corona cases in the country are rising, it is worrisome. I pray that the peak comes soon and this country is freed from the virus,” the Congress spokesperson mentioned.

“Lockdown was a pause button and it ought to have been used to ramp up well being infrastructure. But the federal government has wasted time and has indulged in mismanagement in procuring ventilators.

“As per the government, only 1,340 ventilators have been procured till June 22, whereas the BJP chief claimed in a virtual rally that the country will have 60,000 ventilators by June-end. Why so few ventilators have been procured in more than 2.5 months. Who is responsible,” he requested.

The Congress chief additionally mentioned Rs 2,000 crore was allotted from the PM Cares Fund for procuring 50,000 ventilators with every costing round Rs four lakh, whereas an organization is supplying ventilators to the federal government at Rs 1.5 lakh solely.

“Does the PM Cares order of 50,000 ventilators include 40,000 ordered by the government earlier. Where has the PM-CARES money gone and why is there an abnormal delay in procuring them…. Has PM Cares opted for open tendering to ensure transparency in government procurement. The PM Cares funds are also public funds,” he mentioned.

Alleging that substandard materials and ventilators are being procured by the federal government from some non-public gamers, Vallabh requested, “Why the government is compromising with the health of people by bringing substandard material.”

He mentioned within the curiosity of individuals of our nation who’re struggling to get out of those difficult and troublesome occasions, the Congress want to know the solutions of questions that are immediately associated to the properly being of residents of our nation.

The opposition chief mentioned within the curiosity of people who find themselves struggling for his or her well being, the federal government ought to reply the questions raised by the Congress get together.

He mentioned neither is the federal government answering questions on the border tussle with China neither is it popping out with information on the coronavirus pandemic.

“The Prime Minister and the Health Minister should reply to these questions raised by us in the interest of the health of the people of the country,” he mentioned.

Vallabh hoped the federal government would look into the issues raised by the get together. “We can’t tolerate the iota of confusion, corruption and mistake at these critical times when the number of COVID-19 patients are every day breaking the record of the last day,” he mentioned.

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