Beware Delhi: Gambhir hits out at AAP govt over COVID-19 spike

Taking a dig at the Aam Aadmi Party government over their handling of the ongoing coronavirus crisis in Delhi, BJP MP Gautam Gambhir on Friday (June 12) warned the residents that the chief minister is more interested in playing the blame game.

The cricketer-turned-politician took to Twitter to target CM Arvind Kejriwal after the Supreme Court pulled up his government for their inappropriate handling of the COVID-19 situation in the national capital saying patients are treated “worse than animals.”

“BEWARE DELHI! Ad campaigns have failed! Centre, Neighbouring States, Hospitals, Testing, Apps have been blamed! Next SC will be blamed. Step out only if needed because CM will not take responsibility!” he tweeted.

BEWARE DELHI!

Ad campaigns have failed! Centre, Neighbouring States, Hospitals, Testing, Apps have been blamed!

Next SC will be blamed. Step out only if needed because CM will not take responsibility! #SCSlamsDelhiGovt #DelhiCollapsing https://t.co/lpLFOSK1K0

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) June 12, 2020

Gambhir’s comments come on a day when the top court sought responses from the Centre and different states on the treatment of COVID-19 patients and the dismal handling of bodies.

Hospitals are not giving due care to the keeping of bodies and not even informing family members about deaths, as a result they are unable to attend the last rites, the top court said.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, S K Kaul and M R Shah also issued notices to the Centre, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

“COVID-19 patients are treated worse than animals. In one case, a body was found in the garbage. Patients are dying and nobody is there even to attend to them. The situation in Delhi is horrendous, horrific and pathetic,” the bench said during the hearing asking the Delhi government why its testing is low.

Related news: Why are COVID patients being treated like animals: SC to Centre, states

Even as the chief minister has repeatedly ensured that the city is ready to tackle whatever situation may come in the future, the number of positive coronavirus cases in the country are the third highest after Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

The national capital has logged 34,687 patients so far and 1,085 deaths, according to the Union Health Ministry.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia this week said that Delhi’s infections of coronavirus will climb to 5.5 lakh by the end of July.

Earlier this week, Gambhir praised Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal’s decision of overruling two controversial coronavirus-related orders of the AAP government that reserved hospitals in the national capital only for Delhiites and urged testing to be performed only for those who are symptomatic.

“Excellent step by LG to overrule Delhi Govt’s idiotic order of not treating patients from other states! India is ONE and we have to fight this pandemic together! #IndiaFightsCorona,” Gambhir had tweeted.

Excellent step by LG to overrule Delhi Govt's idiotic order of not treating patients from other states! India is ONE and we have to fight this pandemic together! #IndiaFightsCorona

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) June 8, 2020