Manisha Kayande said Eknath Shinde never waited to become the chief minister to serve the people of Maharashtra. (Twitter @KayandeDr)
Manisha Kayande said it was during Uddhav Thackeray’s tenure that there was immense shortage of Remdesivir, the crucial medicine to treat Covid-19, inadequate supply of oxygen cylinders and the body bag scam
Uddhav Thackeray’s criticism of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde over the crumbling healthcare in the state has not gone down well with the latter’s camp, with Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande reminding the former CM of Covid-19 deaths during his tenure.
Kayande, also a Member of Legislative Council, compared the coronavirus deaths with the recent deaths in government hospitals across the state and said: “Almost 1,48,561 deaths, still they proudly propagate that he was declared one of the top 5 chief ministers. Uddhav-ji it was during your tenure that there was immense shortage of Remdesivir, the crucial medicine to treat Covid-19, inadequate supply of oxygen cylinders and the body bag scam. Also, Uddhav-ji, I wish to remind you that it was the people, the special task force and certain service organisations that had reached out to those suffering when you were sitting indoors with your motto ‘My Family My Responsibility’.”
Defending Shinde, Kayande added: “It was during Uddhav Thackeray’s tenure as the CM that Maharashtra had the maximum Covid-19 deaths. Shinde, with his PPE kit on, was constantly serving the people of Maharashtra even when he was down with coronavirus and you [Thackeray] had left the people to fend for themselves. Uddhav-ji, let me also remind you that Eknath Shinde was the urban development minister at that time. He never waited to become the chief minister to serve the people of Maharashtra.”
Kayande also expressed confidence that responsibility will be fixed once the inquiry committee report is submitted.
She added: “Our chief minister is committed to help people in need, especially by giving medical help. While MVA government disbursed barely Rs 2.5 crore funds through CM Relief Fund in two-and-a-half years, Mahayuti government under Shinde has disbursed over Rs 125 crore in the last one-and-a-half years. As chief minister, you [Thackeray] used to manage the state’s affairs from the comfort of your home and addressed people’s issues through Facebook Live.”
In a rebuttal to Thackeray on the issue of Shinde’s Delhi tour, Kayande said: “CM Shinde has gone to Delhi to attend a crucial meeting called by the Union home ministry to discuss measures to curtail the Naxalite movement across the country. The meeting is being attended by almost 14-15 chief ministers. I am sure Uddhav-ji would have criticised Shinde had he not attended this meeting.”
