Some states showed increased oxygen demand in courts during Covid second wave: Mandaviya in LS

New Delhi: The politics around Oxygen started with the second wave of COVID-19 and some states went to courts and showed increased demand for oxygen in their respective state to get favourable orders, said Minister of Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya in Lok Sabha on Friday.

“The politics around Oxygen started with the second wave of COVID-19 and some states went to courts and showed increased demand for oxygen in their respective state to get favourable orders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Chief Ministers not to hide any number related to deaths due to COVID-19 or oxygen,” he said.

“We had written to all States asking for data on it. 19 States responded, only Punjab reported four ‘suspected’ deaths due to oxygen shortage,” he added.

We had written to all States asking for data on it. 19 States responded, only Punjab reported four 'suspected' deaths due to oxygen shortage: Union Health Minister Dr Mandaviya in Lok Sabha on the question of 'deaths due to oxygen shortage' pic.twitter.com/xrZfXVpHf1

— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2021

The minister was replying to the question raised by Congress MP Balubhau Dhanorkar on the deaths due to oxygen shortage during the second wave of COVID-19.

A Supreme Court bench, headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud, also constituted National Task Force (NTF) to assess and recommend the need and distribution of oxygen in the country.

Under Modi Govt,work is going on to strengthen weak health infrastructure.Without blaming pervious govts that ignored health infrastructure,Govt worked for results. In last 2 yrs, decisions under leadership of PM Modi show that this govt works with willpower&not power: Health Min pic.twitter.com/COcC41DmeT

— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2021

The Winter session which began on November 29 is likely to conclude on December 23.

The Central government had during the monsoon session informed the Rajya Sabha that no deaths due to lack of oxygen has been specifically reported by states/Union territories during the second wave of COVID-19.