Nobody cured of COVID-19 due to 'Bhabhiji papad: Shiv Sena

Sanjay Raut

Taking a jibe at Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, who promoted 'Bhabhiji papad' to fight the coronavirus infection, the Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said in Rajya Sabha on Thursday, "Maharashtra has done good in controlling the pandemic and nobody was cured by eating the papad". In July, Meghwal promoted 'Bhabiji papad', claiming that it was made from such ingredients which could help in building antibodies against Covid-19. Raut, while attacking Meghwal said, "Maharashtra has actively controlled the spread, and Dharavi is the best example, which is the largest slum in the country. Many ministers are infected, a former cricketer-minister Chetan Chauhan has died. There should be no blame game on the issue and we should fight this pandemic together."

Participating in the debate on the Covid-19 situation in the country, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Praful Patel said the state is being targeted unduly and this is the time to fight together. The opposition attack was triggered after BJP MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe targeted the Maharashtra government on the Covid issue. Congress leader Anand Sharma initiated the discussion on Wednesday on the statement of the Union Health Minister. Sharma targeted the government over the imposition of 'sudden lockdown' in the country and the government claims that this prevented nearly 14 to 29 lakh Covid-19 cases.

"Yesterday, the health minister said that this decision (lockdown) could prevent approximately 14 to 29 lakh Covid-19 cases and 37,000-78,000 deaths. This House must be informed what is the scientific basis of this and how they have reached this conclusion," Sharma said. He said there was a very wide gap in this.

Sharma also questioned why the government had no data on the migrant workers. He also said had the facilities like the quarantine centres been in place in cities for the migrant workers, their migration could have been restricted, and thus the pandemic could have been contained from spreading into rural areas.

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