Congress lacks leadership, says BJP's Rathore

Hyderabad: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and Olympic medallist Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Monday spoke exclusively to ETV Bharat on different issues prevailing in the country ranging from the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic to the ongoing political crisis in Rajasthan.

Lauding the country's efforts in tackling the Coronavirus pandemic, the Jaipur Rural MP said that the country tackled this crisis better than many other countries despite not having resources like some developed countries. He claimed that the country took lessons from the first wave and started manufacturing ventilators on a large scale. Not only this, making remarkable progress in the field of medicine, the country has also increased the production of life-saving drugs manifold.

"We went one step further and made our own vaccine like some developed countries. The country has a low death rate in terms of population as compared to many countries of the world. Today we are self-reliant in the matter of vaccines because of making meaningful efforts at the right time. Today our vaccine is being used by as many as 80 countries," he added.

Defending the government's decision to export the vaccines to other countries, Rathore said that they were sent under the commercial and licensing liabilities of the Indian manufacturers.

"The vaccines were sent under some obligations. We had to import raw materials for vaccines from different countries and in the lieu of that vaccines were exported to those countries. However, when the situation turned dire during the second wave, the central government took appropriate steps in time and stopped the export of the vaccine, making a global consensus," he clarified.

He also slammed Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for failing to tackle the Covid situation in the state. Rathore alleged that despite several warnings from the central government about the Covid second wave, the Gehlot government ignored it and continued to handle the political crisis to stay in power.

"Before the second wave of Covid, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave money from the PM Cares Fund to set up 4 oxygen plants in Rajasthan, but the state government did nothing except blame the BJP leaders of the state," he pointed out.

Commenting on the ongoing political crisis in Rajasthan, Rathore said that central leadership is weak in Congress which has led to the tremendous indiscipline within the party. An example of this can be seen in other states, including Punjab, where there is a rift within the Congress party. Congress is weak at this time, so the opposition will definitely take advantage, he added.

"Congress needs to look within itself. The BJP is a democratic party, not a family party like Congress. The matter of public interest is being ignored in Rajasthan, which we will not tolerate. When the time comes, it will be answered democratically. There is an atmosphere of instability in the Congress at this time, Rathore added.

On being asked about the rising fuel prices which have hit the budget of the common people amid the Covid pandemic, Rathore blamed the Congress party for making it a big issue by giving political colour to it.

"The central government is taking some steps that are necessary for the development of the country and strengthening the economy, which brings foreign investment into the country and the development of the countrymen, the olympian-turned parliamentarian added.