System has failed, deaths being under-reported, alleges Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi, April 25

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that the “system has failed” and it is the duty of the party to provide help to fellow citizens suffering due to sudden spurt in Covid-19 cases in the country.

His comments came on a day Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his “Mann ki Baat” radio programme said the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has shaken the country and assured people that the Centre was working with all power to help the states.

“System failed, so it’s important to do Jan ki baat,” Rahul said on Twitter. “In this crisis, the country needs responsible citizens. I request my Congress colleagues to leave all political work — just provide all help and ease the pain of our countrymen,” he added.

He alleged that the truth about the pandemic was shrouded and deaths were being under-reported.

“Shroud the truth. Deny oxygen shortage. Underreport deaths. The Government of India (GOI) is doing everything……to save his fake image,” he said on Twitter.

He shared the front page of “The New York Times” showing a picture of cremations being conducted and headlined, “As Covid ravages India, true toll is undercounted”.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said “hiding data” and not sharing the total number of infections and deaths is doing a disservice to the nation.

He said the data, howsoever serious it may be, makes us aware and alert, and urged for a “course correction”. — PTI

Former SSB chief succumbs to Covid

New Delhi: Former Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Director General Arun Chaudhary, 1977-batch Bihar cadre retired IPS officer, has succumbed to Covid-19, officials in the force confirmed. He was 66. Chaudhary had served for nearly two decades in the Intelligence Bureau (IB) where he headed the Jammu and Kashmir desk, officials said. tns