Following the Remdesivir controversy pertaining to its alleged illegal distribution, MLA Sanjay Gaikwad of Shiva Sena stepped up to say that he would have put coronavirus into the mouth of BJP leader and former chief minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis if he found it. The comment has given rise to protests from the BJP in the state.
Devendra Fadnavis has been in the news for raising objections to the interrogation of Mumbai police with the top executive of a pharmaceutical company in the case of Remedesivir’s illegal stocking. The drug is being increasingly used across the country to treat covid-19 patients. Fadnavis’s concerns over the grilling left the ruling party slamming the MLA.
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On Saturday, Mr Gaikwad questioned Fadnavis while speaking to the media as to what his steps would be if he was the chief minister of the state during the pandemic era. The MLA from Buldhana said that instead of joining hands with the ministers of Maharashtra to help them in this situation, BJP leaders are making fun of them while watching the failure of the government (NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena) unfold.
“Hence, if I would have found the coronavirus, I would have put it into the mouth of Devendra Fadnavis,” he said.
He claimed that Fadnavis and two of BJP’s leaders- Chandrakant Patil and Pravin Darekar- were involved in petty politics through the procurement and distribution of Remdesivir injections illegally despite the difficult times in the state.
Mr Gaikwad further alleged that the Centre told manufacturing firms of Remdesivir situated in Maharashtra to not provide the drug to the state. He added that the central government is not even supplying the required oxygen cylinders to the state.
Remdesivir injections are being sent to Gujarat and 50,000 vials are given from a BJP office in Maharashtra to that state for free even while Maharashtra is bleeding with covid patients dying every day due to the shortage of the drug and oxygen.
“Such low and petty politics is being done by the central government and Fadnavis,” he said while adding, “Is this the time to do politics? The Centre and Mr Fadnavis should be shameful of their acts.”
Mr Gaikwad’s comments did not go well with the BJP as its workers were seen staging protests in many parts of Buldhana, the place where he is an MLA. They also burnt his effigies on Sunday.
Reacting to the charges, Fadnavis said that he isn’t scared of any investigation against him in the essential drug’s case as he allegedly hasn’t committed any wrong deed.
