Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday asked the opposition parties to stop playing politics over oxygen shortage during the second wave of COVID-19 infections and take note of the Centre's efforts to ramp production of the life-saving gas to meet the surge in demand.
Addressing the Lok Sabha during the Question Hour, he said the Union government made "all possible efforts" to ensure the availability of oxygen and increased its production following a rise in demand during the second wave of the pandemic.
"Sadly, even in such a situation, many people did not refrain from playing politics... I appeal, take note of our honest efforts. This is not a subject of politics," he said in reply to a question on the issue raised by Congress MP Suresh Dhanorkar.
Mr Mandaviya also hit out at the opposition over claims about deaths due to oxygen shortage during that period, saying the Centre sought from states data on the matter and only the Punjab government replied that there were four suspected cases of such deaths and a probe into them was underway.
"I want to say that Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) had said at the chief ministers' meeting that there was no need to hide the number of deaths due to shortage of oxygen shortage. It (numbers) should be reported," the Union Health Minister said.
The Centre wrote to states thrice, requesting them to provide data on the number of people who died due to shortage of oxygen, Mr Mandaviya said.
"A total of 19 states responded and it's only Punjab which stated in writing that four suspected deaths were there (in the state) and that too being investigated. We made it public. Still, politics is happening," he added.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
What Is A Tripledemic? Lookout For These Three Viruses That Cause Severe Respiratory Health Issues India Reports 157 Covid Cases, 2 Deaths In Last 24 Hours Daily Covid Cases On The Decline In India, But Centre Remains Alert Is Safe Car Enough? Volvo Crash That Killed CEO, Family Sparks Big Question Snack Food Epigamia Founder Rohan Mirchandani Dies Of Cardiac Arrest At 41 Jeff Bezos To Marry Lauren Sanchez In A Lavish $600M Ceremony: Report NEET UG 2024 Counselling: Check Schedule For Special Stray Vacancy Round 3 Tomotoes Thrown, Protest Outside Allu Arjun's Home Over Stampede Death Snack Food Epigamia Founder Rohan Mirchandani Dies Of Cardiac Arrest At 41 Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.