Highlights: CM Yogi Adityanath on Uttar Pradesh’s strategy to deal with Covid-19 crisis

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath in an exclusive conversation with Hindustan editor-in-chief Shashi Shekhar

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday discussed the state’s future strategy to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic in an exclusive interview with Hindustan editor-in-chief Shashi Shekhar.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath (ANI)

The chief minister lauded PM Narendra Modi’s leadership at the Centre in fighting the pandemic and said that the Centre has given its full cooperation to the state government.

Adityanath also launched an attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and sister Priyanka Gandhi over their criticism of the government's handling of the coronavirus crisis and asserted that it was not the time for politics.

Here are the highlights from Yogi Adityanath’s interview:

-- ‘Will turn India into Italy’: Yogi Adityanath stings Rahul Gandhi over Covid-19 response

Yogi Adityanath launched a sharp counter attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and sister Priyanka for their criticism of the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, asserting that if the country listens to them on Covid-19, India will turn into Italy. Yogi Adtiyanath’s barb was a reference to a spike in Covid-19 cases in Italy in the early days of the pandemic.

--Yogi Adityanath slams Congress over buses for migrants issue

On Congress’s offer to ferry migrants in 1,000 buses, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath on Friday said “it was an ugly joke”.

Adityanath accused the Congress of “playing with lives” and reeled of numbers, suggesting that the vehicle details submitted by the Congress showed that they were not actual buses. Upon inspection , the CM said, many turned out to be autorickshaws and other three-wheelers.

-- UP fully prepared to deal with Covid-19 pandemic: Yogi Adityanath

When the first coronavirus cases was detected in the country, the state had no testing labs and isolation wards, the CM said. However now, “we are fully prepared to deal with the pandemic.”

According to the CM, the state at present is conducting 12,000 coronavirus tests every day. By June 15, the UP govt aims to conduct at least 15,000 tests per day and 20,000 by June 20.

-- UP CM Yogi Adityanath lauds PM Modi’s efforts in fighting Covid-19 battle

UP CM Yogi Adityanath on Friday lauded PM Narendra Modi’s leadership at the Centre in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.