Punjab was given more Remdesivir than UP, says Union Minister

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 18

The ruling BJP on Friday highlighted several decisions taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Punjab in “true spirit of cooperative federalism” to attack opposition parties, which often accuse the central government of overriding powers of states.

Citing the example of Punjab and Assam, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the population of both states is roughly similar while Uttar Pradesh has a population of around 20 crores.

“My team did an analysis and found out that the number of Remdesivir supplied by the Centre per hundred thousand people in Assam was 323 and UP 264”.

“Punjab on the other hand has 632, which is almost double as compared to Assam and Uttar Pradesh,” he said, adding that this might not be an indicator as many states also procure it themselves “but for anyone to suggest that they have been short-changed or denied the legitimate share is a falsification”.

The Centre recently sanctioned medical oxygen plants for 41 locations in Punjab under the PM Cares Fund, Puri said, also again taking a swipe at Amarinder Singh government over its alleged profiteering by selling Covid vaccines to private hospitals. 

“Congress leaders are not on the same page. Some of them think profiteering on centrally supplied medicines is legitimate. The health minister of Punjab government claimed he had nothing to do with this scam,” he said.

Puri said: “Eighty per cent of Covishield procurement at a cost of Rs 309 per dose indicates that the profiteering figure has been much higher than the figure reported. After this, they probably gave 30 lakhs to just one hospital. They sold it for Rs 1060, so the profit of Rs 750 has been made”.

Puri also said that it was alleged that MSP for grains will be abolished and the mandi system repealed when the government enacted three farm laws, however, the Centre made record procurement and transferred money directly to bank accounts of farmers. “The government has made it clear that if there are any doubts (regarding laws) we are ready to sit with you and are open to all suggestions. But template has to be benefit to farmers,” he said.

The union minister also demanded a probe into crimes that have allegedly occurred at the sites of farmer protests with BJP the spokesperson Sambit Patra adding that "democracy has space for agitations, not crime".

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