Youth Congress Helps Foreign Embassies, MEA Says: “Don’t Hoard Oxygen”

The spat between government and Opposition Congress was sparked due to posts on social media by Youth Congress that its volunteers had supplied oxygen cylinders to the New Zealand and Philippines missions.

The oxygen crisis in the national capital has created a new controversy, with the central government and opposition slamming each other. The reason behind this the Youth Congress providing help to two foreign missions on Sunday. It resulted in an unusually undiplomatic message from the Government to “all high commissions and embassies”: Do not hoard oxygen.

This comes ar a time when global diplomacy is driven by the help countries provide to each other during the pandemic, with India sending more than 6.5 cr vaccines to over 80 countries and around 40 nations, including the US, sending aid in the form of oxygen and related equipment, like concentrators and tankers, and key drugs such as remdesivir.

The spat between government and Opposition Congress was sparked due to posts on social media by Youth Congress that its volunteers had supplied oxygen cylinders to the New Zealand and Philippines missions following specific requests. People took to social media and asked Foreign Minister S Jaishankar that whether the government was so helpless that foreign missions were asking for help form Youth Congress. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar described this as “unsolicited supply” while the MEA spokesperson said that “given the pandemic situation, all are urged not to hoard essential supplies, including oxygen”.

Mr Jainshankar’s comments came in response to a tweet by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh after Youth Congress chief B V Srinivas posted visuals of the volunteers at the Philippines Embassy with oxygen cylinders on Saturday night.

Actions speak louder than words, Mr. Minister. No amount of “image management” can hide the reality of people gasping for oxygen. Please do your job instead of heckling at those who help the needy. The @IYC is showing the way, and we are proud of them. @DrSJaishankar https://t.co/XCa4k9qkp4

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 3, 2021

“While I thank @IYC for its stellar efforts, as an Indian citizen I’m stunned that the youth wing of the opposition party is attending to SOS calls from foreign embassies. Is the MEA sleeping @DrSJaishankar?” Mr Jairam said.

Mr Jainshankar came up with a blunt response. “MEA checked with the Philippines Embassy. This was an unsolicited supply as they had no Covid cases. Clearly for cheap publicity by you know who. Giving away cylinders like this when there are people in desperate need of oxygen is simply appalling,” the EAM said.

“Jairamji, MEA never sleeps; our people know across the world. MEA also never fakes; we know who does,” he wrote.

However, what added more fodder to the fire was a tweet on Sunday by the New Zealand High Commission requesting help from Srinivas and the Youth Congress for an oxygen cylinder. “Right away. Please share further details in DM,” Srinivas responded.

After Youth Congress workers reached the High Commission with cylinders, Srinivas tweeted: “We have reached New Zealand High Commission with oxygen cylinders. Please open the gates and save a soul on time.”

However, by then, the New Zealand High Commission had deleted the tweet and posted another: “We are trying all sources to arrange for oxygen cylinders urgently and our appeal has unfortunately been misinterpreted, for which we are sorry.”

The Youth Congress chief later put out a video of Youth Congress workers entering the High Commission with a cylinder. “New Zealand high commission opened gates of the embassy and accepted cylinders. Also, they thanked the #SOSIYC team for this quick relief as the patient inside the embassy was critically ill,” he tweeted.

Update- New Zealand high commission opened gates of the embassy and accepted cylinders.

Also, they thanked the #SOSIYC team for this quick relief as patient inside embassy was critically ill. https://t.co/BzGwj0wm0q pic.twitter.com/vu6TUhD1r8

— Srinivas B V (@srinivasiyc) May 2, 2021

Responding to queries regarding medical requirements of High Commissions and Embassies, MEA official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said: “The Chief of Protocol and Heads of Divisions are in continuous touch with all High Commissions/Embassies and MEA is responding to their medical demands, especially those related to Covid. This includes facilitating their hospital treatment.