Rahul Gandhi releases white paper on Covid, says aim to help prepare for third wave, not criticise govt

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has released a white paper on Covid-19 management. At a press conference, Rahul Gandhi said on Tuesday that the aim of the white paper is to help the nation prepare for the third wave of Covid.

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Rahul Gandhi releases white paper on Covid, says aim to help prepare for third wave, not criticise govt
File photo of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi (PTI)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday released a white paper by the party on the Centre's Covid-19 management while saying its purpose is to help the country prepare for a possible third wave of coronavirus and not criticise the government.

“The whole country knows the third wave of Covid-19 is coming. We urge the government to prepare for it,” Rahul Gandhi said at a press conference on Tuesday. "The aim of this white paper on Covid-19 is not finger-pointing at the government but to help the nation prepare for the third wave of infection," Rahul Gandhi said.

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It is our intention to provide the government with information and insights into what went wrong, Rahul Gandhi said.

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The former Congress chief said it is clear that the management of the first and second wave of Covid-19 was "disastrous". "There were certain reasons as to why it was disastrous. We've tried to point out those reasons in our white paper. This is a blueprint about how to react to the third wave which is going to come," Rahul Gandhi said.

Rahul Gandhi added, "Ninety per cent of those who have died could have been saved. The biggest reason for this was the lack of oxygen at the time. While there is no shortage of oxygen in the country. PM's tears did not save the lives of people but oxygen could have."

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Asserting that the central pillar to fight Covid is vaccination, Rahul Gandhi said it is important that "we cross the bridge of 100 per cent vaccination as soon as possible".

On India administering more than 82 lakh Covid vaccine doses in a single day on Monday, Rahul Gandhi praised the vaccination drive.

"Yes, good work happened yesterday, but this is not a series of events. The government has to make this process work not just for one day but every day until we have vaccinated our entire population, Rahul Gandhi said.

He also urged the government to treat all states equally for Covid-19 vaccinations, asserting that there should be no bias and they should not be viewed as BJP or opposition states.

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