Why insult corona warriors: Rahul on govt’s ‘no data on deaths of healthcare worker’

New Delhi, September 18

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday attacked the government for stating that data on healthcare staff who were affected by COVID-19 or had died from it was not maintained centrally and alleged that “corona warriors” were being insulted.

Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey informed the Rajya Sabha this week that health was a state subject and “such data is not maintained at the Central level by the Ministry of Health”.

This was in response to a question on the number of healthcare staff, including doctors, nurses, support staff and ASHA workers, who have been affected by coronavirus or died due to it.

Tagging a news report on Choubey’s reply, Gandhi titled his tweet: “Adverse data-free Modi government! Their (healthcare workers’) safety and respect are more important than beating plates or lighting lamps,” the former Congress chief tweeted in Hindi, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated campaigns honouring ‘corona warriors’.

प्रतिकूल डाटा-मुक्त मोदी सरकार!

थाली बजाने, दिया जलाने से ज़्यादा ज़रूरी हैं उनकी सुरक्षा और सम्मान।

मोदी सरकार, कोरोना वॉरीअर का इतना अपमान क्यों? https://t.co/jkkiPuywgM

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 18, 2020

“Modi government, why this insult of corona warriors?” Gandhi asked.

Choubey, in his reply, however, also said the database of those seeking relief under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Insurance Package was maintained at the national level.

As many as 155 healthcare staff, including 64 doctors, have died due to the coronavirus infection, according to the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Insurance Scheme for health workers fighting COVID-19, he said. PTI