New Delhi: At Rajya Sabha on Monday, the government has stated that it has no information available with them regarding the bodies found in river Ganga, during the second wave of covid.
Junior Jal Shakti Minister Bishweswar Tudu said: โInformation regarding number of COVID-19 related dead bodies estimated to have been dumped in the river Ganga is not available.โ
The government stated so in response to a question from Trinamool Congress MP Derek OโBrien, who also sought the information on the steps being taken to dispose the bodies in accordance with Covid protocols.
The minister said โunclaimed/unidentified, burnt/partially burnt dead bodiesโ had been found on the river or its banks, and that these incidents had been reported from districts in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
He also said that Ministry had sought a report about the bodies, and the action being taken, including disposal, from the respective state governments.
To the Chief Secretaries of Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, and Bengal advisories were issued, he said.
The Congress hit out at the governmentโs response, with senior leader KC Venugopal pointing out the current reply was almost identical to that provided to questions about deaths due to oxygen shortage.
โThe government is misleading the Parliament. It is the same replyโฆI got the same reply when I asked how many deaths had happened because of oxygen shortageโฆโ Mr Venugopal told NDTV.
Other opposition leaders too agreed with the TMC leader. Other opposition leaders were equally critical, with Mr OโBrienโs colleague accusing the government of โlyingโ and โhiding factsโ.
Sukhendu Sekhar Roy claims that the government is hiding facts. He said, โThere were pictures published in the media (showing) dead bodies floating in the Gangesโฆ The government should tell Parliament how many dead bodies were thrown. The government is hiding factsโฆ it is against democracy, an insult to Parliament.โ
The RJDโs Manoj Jha said: โThere cannot be a more insensitive and indecent answer than this.โ
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