Modi tells states to ensure smooth movement of oxygen tankers

Delhi Chief Arvind Kejriwal’s request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking for uninterrupted oxygen supply to Delhi, had the right impact as Modi asked all states to ensure that tankers carrying oxygen to other states are neither stopped nor delayed.

Modi said this at a meeting with the chief ministers of 12 states, which have been hit the worst by the COVID second wave. Earlier in the meeting, Kejriwal accused some states of stopping medical oxygen being transported to the national capital.

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The meeting was mainly aimed at discussing oxygen and medicine supply, besides availability of hospital beds all over the country. The Prime Minister asked all states to set up high-level coordination committees to carry oxygen to hospitals on demand.

Modi asked all states to stay united in this critical juncture and assured full support from the Centre for the same.

Fortis Hospital in #Haryana has only 45 minutes of oxygen left. Requesting @ashokgehlot51, @rajnathsingh, @PiyushGoyalOffc, @mlkhattar and @AmitShah to act immediately and help us to save patients’ lives. (1/2)

— Fortis Healthcare (@fortis_hospital) April 22, 2021

During the same meeting, Kejriwal made an earnest appeal to the Prime Minister to make the required phone calls to ensure the airlifting of oxygen from Odisha and West Bengal to the national capital, which for the past few days has been reeling under acute crisis of medical oxygen to cater to COVID patients.

Thank you for your support, this is to apprise you that we have received the oxygen tanker and saving lives to the best of our capacity. We would like to thank the authorities and everyone who has supported this.

— Fortis Healthcare (@fortis_hospital) April 22, 2021

Kejriwal’s talk with the PM, however, was televised, which is against the protocol. Government sources called Kejriwal’s appeal a political gimmick while asserting that the interaction between him and Modi was not meant to be televised.

On Thursday (April 22), the Centre has issued orders under the Disaster Management Act that no state can hold up supplies of oxygen. The order issued by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said: “No restriction shall be imposed on the movement of medical oxygen between the states and transport authorities shall be instructed to accordingly allow free inter-state movement of oxygen carrying vehicles.”