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Punjab, Rajasthan CMs management of Covid inept: Anurag Thakur
Union minister Anurag Thakur said in Punjab, ventilators meant for saving lives of Covid patients were found in dustbins and later, they sold vaccines to private hospitals
Union minister of state for finance and corporate affairs Anurag Thakur hit out at the chief ministers of Punjab and Rajasthan, both Congress-ruled states, on Tuesday alleging that the ministers’ handling of the crisis had been inept.
“Both CMs, Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan) and Captain Amarinder Singh (Punjab), were inaccessible to the public as well as legislaters. The rift in Congress is an internal matter. however, legislators are unable to meet the CMs,” he said.
Taking a dig at the Amarinder Singh-led Punjab government, Thakur said, “In Punjab, the ventilators meant for saving lives of Covid patients were found in dustbins. Later, they sold vaccines to private hospitals.”
On Congress MP Digvijaya Singh’s remarks advocating revocation of Article 370, he said, “Congress leaders are singing in chorus with the Pakistan media. Article 370 has been buried forever by the BJP government. If Congress is speaking the language of Pakistani journalists, then it is a traitor.”
Asked about the soaring inflation rate, the BJP leader said, “More inflation was seen during the Congress’ era. The market decides the rate of petrol and diesel. Whether it will be cheaper or expensive in future depends on the market.”
Thakur, who was in Shimla to attend a meeting of BJP leaders, distributed approval letters to beneficiaries under the consumer contact programme. “Banks have sanctioned working capital loans of ₹75,426 crore under the ₹3 lakh crore emergency credit line guarantee scheme (ECLGS) for MSMEs, of which ₹32,895 crore has already been disbursed.”
The scheme, under which the government offers full guarantee on up to 20% additional and collateral-free working capital loans, was rolled out from June 1 to soften the blow to MSMEs battered by the Covid outbreak.
