The Congress on Saturday said the oxygen shortage that is killing Covid patients is the result of the Narendra Modi government’s failure to prepare despite early warnings.

“India has 1.65 crore Covid cases and over 2,500 people are dying daily. Unfortunately, this is not only because of the pandemic; the government’s attitude, arrogance and failures are part of the causes for this tragedy,” he said.

Maken pointed to the report of the parliamentary standing committee on health and family welfare, submitted on November 21 and tabled in the Rajya Sabha in February.

“In the 190-page report, the word ‘oxygen’ appears 40 times. The report says on page 27: ‘The committee, therefore, strongly advocates national pharmaceutical pricing authority to take appropriate measures, for capping the price of oxygen cylinders so that availability, as well as, affordability of the oxygen cylinder is ensured in all the hospitals and for medical consumption. The committee also recommends the government for encouraging adequate production of oxygen for ensuring its supply as per demand in the hospitals’,” Maken said.

He continued: “On page 35, the report said ‘The committee also recommends the (health) ministry to ensure the adequate supply of oxygen cylinder with appropriate price cap’. The empowered group set up by the government of India said on April 1, 2020, ‘In coming days, India could face the worst shortage of oxygen supply.’”

“This was said when India had only 2,000 cases daily. We have storage capacity of 50,000 metric tonnes of oxygen. But no arrangements were made for supply of oxygen. Now Tatas are saying they will import cryogenic tankers.”

The Congress had earlier pointed out that only 32 out of the 162 sanctioned oxygen plants are operational.Former finance minister P. Chidambaram tweeted: “Despite warnings in April 2020 (by the Empowered Group) and in Oct-Nov 2020 (by the Parliamentary Committee), why did the Government not take the steps it is taking since yesterday? Is this not gross and callous negligence? Will no one be held accountable? Should not the Health Minister and the Health Secretary be asked to resign? People crying for admission of patients in hospitals, people pleading with doctors to examine the patient, people carrying an oxygen cylinder on their back while bringing the patient, hospitals rushing to High Courts seeking oxygen supply.”

Maken on Saturday said: “Of the eight sanctioned for Delhi by the Centre, only one is functioning.”

He also hit out at the state government. “Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal spent Rs 355 crore on advertisements last year. This year’s budget for advertisement is Rs 467 crore. We are seeing his publicity every minute on TV channels. With Rs 882 crore (meant for advertisement), Delhi could have built 800 oxygen plants. They could have supplied not only to their hospitals but to the neighbouring states as well.”

“In Congress-ruled Rajasthan, the state government sanctioned 37 plants and 24 have been made operational during the last few months. Thirteen are in advanced stage. Today, Delhi is facing such an acute crisis because the Centre and the state do nothing except sparring with each other.”

The Congress also objected to the government’s lack of focus and wasteful expenditure with Rahul Gandhi tweeting: “Appeal politely to the Government to focus on vaccines, oxygen and other medical facilities instead of wasting money on PR and unnecessary projects. This crisis will deepen in the coming days. The nation must be prepared to face it. The current situation is unbearable.”

In another tweet, Rahul wrote: “India needs vaccines, Mr Lying Machine.”

He posted a chart that showed how India lagged behind in the vaccination drive with barely 1.4 per cent of the population getting two doses at a time the US had vaccinated 26.5 per cent, the UK 15.9 per cent, Italy 7.9 per cent, France 7.1 per cent, Germany 6.8 per cent, Brazil 4.3 per cent, Mexico 3.5 per cent and Indonensia 2.3 per cent.

On vaccine pricing, Chidambaram said: “The Central Government’s decision to allow multiple prices for vaccines is discriminatory and regressive. States must unanimously reject the decision. The best way forward is for the state governments to jointly form a Price Negotiation Committee and offer to negotiate a uniform price with the two vaccine manufacturers. The joint purchasing power of the state governments will force the manufacturers to agree to a uniform price. States must take the initiative. The Central Government has abdicated its responsibility and surrendered to corporate profiteering.”