Kejriwal leaves Modi gasping

It is not clear how the video conference part, where Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal pleaded with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for supply of oxygen, went live on channels, but it gave an opportunity to the people to understand how the Prime Minister had failed to handle shortage of oxygen and its supply.

When Kejriwal spoke at a video conference, Modi had called with Chief Ministers of states badly affected by the COVID second wave, it went live on news channels.

This annoyed the Prime Minister, who told the Chief Minister that protocol demands that such discussions do not go to the public.

Well, that may be the case, but what was being discussed between the Prime Minister and the Chief Ministers of states worst affected by the second wave of COVID, was not a national secret and the people of the country have a right to know how the situation is being handled and what decisions are being taken.

The Bharatiya Janata Party was quick to respond that the meeting was confidential and Kejriwal played politics. If the meeting was confidential and if Kejriwal has violated his Oath of Secrecy, the Union Government should take action against him.

The draft of the Oath of Secrecy has been given in the Third Schedule of Constitution of India. It states, “I, A.B., do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will not directly or indirectly communicate or reveal to any person or persons any matter which shall be brought under my consideration or shall become known to me as a Minister for the State of ....................except as may be required for the due discharge of my duties as such Minister.”

The issue that comes up here is whether the Prime Minister or any official on his behalf had mentioned that this is a confidential meeting and even if it is so, in the given situation, it is part of the discharge of duties of a Chief Minister to let the people of the state know the status of the supply of oxygen, when COVID patients are dying due to the lack of it.

After every such meeting, the Prime Minister’s office ensures that his part of the meeting is sent to news channels for telecast. Modi cannot be selective about what is being telecast. The publicity hungry Prime Minister, does not like any adverse publicity. Though Kejriwal spoke with humility and with pain, what he said gave a clear message that the Centre has failed to provide adequate amount of oxygen to the national capital.

The issues discussed in today’s meeting related to the shortage of oxygen and medicines in the light of the increasing number of COVID cases across the country. However much the government may want to hide the fact that there is shortage of oxygen in the country, it is an open secret that the life-saving gas is in short supply.

Not merely relatives of patients, doctors and other health workers are in tears to see patients gasping for breath, as oxygen supplies deplete. Under the circumstances, the head of the Union Government should have come forward to telecast the entire meeting for the people to know how serious the government is in resolving the situation. The meeting becomes confidential, when the government wants to hide its failure in handing the situation.

The Centre and the ruling BJP seem to be more time and resources in hiding the failure, than to rectifying it.