CAIT urges Kejriwal to release white paper on Covid situation in Delhi
The white paper should state what the government’s future strategy to deal with the Corona crisis is and whether the government needs any support from the public, traders or organizations of residential colonies and, if so, what the government has planned for it.
Shri Ram Shaw
New Delhi, 20 April: Extending its full support to the Delhi Government in its endeavour to combat Covid cases, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has urged Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to issue a white paper on the surging number of cases and the “poor medical facilities” in the national capital.
CAIT Secretary-General Praveen Khandelwal said that the white paper should state what the government’s future strategy to deal with the Corona crisis is and whether the government needs any support from the public, traders or organizations of residential colonies and, if so, what the government has planned for it.
“Though the Kejriwal government has imposed a 6-day lockdown, it may only reduce the spread of the cases to some extent. But the larger question is: what after the lockdown?” he added.
Khandelwal said that the people of Delhi have every right to know how the government will control Corona after the lockdown is over. Under the present circumstances, it can’t be left to the Chief Minister alone.
He further said, “The situation on the ground is certainly very horrible — hospitals do not have beds; oxygen, ventilators and medicines are not available; Covid testing is not being done properly. People are suffering and no one is there to listen to them. The Delhi Government had issued a list to get Remidisivir injection but the reality is that this injection is not available even in those places. People are dying. Everyone is helpless. Money has lost its relevance in the case of Covid treatment or for obtaining medicines. Who is responsible for such a pathetic situation?”
Khandelwal demanded that Kejriwal should immediately release the concrete blueprint of his schemes in the form of a white paper and plan as to how the availability of medical help will be augmented. He said that instead of just trusting the officers, the Chief Minister himself should take to the streets to see the ground reality himself and then take necessary steps. “The time for advertising on TV is over and there is a need to work on the road. Delhi traders are committed to fully support the government in its endeavour to combat the Covid crisis in Delhi,” he added.
Khandelwal alleged that it is ironic that on issues of traders, Kejriwal listens only to a handful of persons who are more of “yes-men” to him. He has shown his double face as far as CAIT is concerned. Nevertheless, in this time of crisis, the Delhi Trade Associations are fully geared up to join hands with the Delhi Government to save the people from the pandemic.
