When BJP was busy with polls, I was fighting for oxygen for Delhi: Kejriwal

Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said, “The Supreme Court set up an oxygen audit committee. We spoke to members of the committee. They said that they have not approved or signed any report till now. Then what report is it?”

Delhi’s chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to not call the residents of the national capital liars, and said that when the party was busy with election campaigns, he was fighting and begging to arrange oxygen for them.

Delhi's chief minister and leader of the Aam Aadmi Party Arvind Kejriwal. (AFP)

Kejriwal tweeted, “My fault that I fought for 2 crore Delhi residents. When you [BJP leaders] were busy with election campaigns, I was awake all night arranging medical oxygen. I fought, I begged to ensure oxygen for people of Delhi. People have lost their dear ones for oxygen shortage. At least don’t call them liars, they will feel terrible about it.”

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Friday also accused the BJP of misleading people and said that findings of the Supreme Court-appointed audit committee that Delhi’s medical oxygen demand during the worst Covid-19 surge was exaggerated, and did not exist.

“We have heard of a so-called report that claims oxygen demand in Delhi was exaggerated. BJP leaders have been citing such a report against the AAP government. The truth is: There is no such report. The BJP is misleading people. No such report exists. The BJP is lying,” said Sisodia in a video press briefing on Friday.

Later, Sambit Patra, national spokesperson for the BJP, tweeted a screenshot of an email sent on July 22 signed by GS Makker, deputy government advocate, and said, “Dear @msisodia ji here’s the fact about the SC appointed panels report on Oxygen usage in Delhi. Closing your eyes to truth doesn’t alter the truth.”

Sisodia asked him to show the signed report of the members and said that this report had been prepared at BJP office and submitted by Central government in the Supreme Court.

“Show me the signed report of the members. This report has been prepared at BJP office and submitted by central govt in SC. We will take it up in SC,” he tweeted.

Sisodia said at the press conference, “The Supreme Court set up an oxygen audit committee. We spoke to members of the committee. They said that they have not approved or signed any report till now. Then what report is it? Where has it come from? I challenge the BJP to get a report which has been signed and approved by the oxygen audit committee.”

“Such misleading statements and conspiracies are not okay in matters that are subjudice. We are all aware of the oxygen crisis in Delhi and the Central government’s failure in oxygen management across the country. Instead of taking responsibility, the BJP is citing reports that do not exist. The BJP created this report in its headquarters and called it the report of the oxygen audit committee.

“It is an insult to people who lost their loved ones because of BJP’s oxygen mismanagement. Were the patients, doctors, and hospitals lying? So many parties went to the court – were they all lying? BJP leaders are lying,” said Sisodia.

“BJP’s lies are unrelenting and heinous, should be called Bhartiya Jhagdaalu Party for shirking responsibilities, Modi ji needs to manage his party,” Sisodia added.