India's ruling party takes responsibility for Covid-19 tragedy

“We are the ruling party, we are the government in India, so of course the responsibility lies with us first, whether it is good or bad. This is our responsibility and we are trying our best,” Taneja told CNN on April 29.

However, he also argued that the current crisis was unforeseeable.

India is experiencing one of the world’s worst Covid-19 outbreaks. According to the Indian Ministry of Health, the country recorded 379,257 new cases on April 29 alone – a new global record. The country also reported 3,645 deaths from Covid-19 on that day – the highest number of deaths recorded in a single day so far. There may be many more cases and deaths that have not been reported and recorded in the statistics system.

India’s daily Covid-19 death toll will continue to rise until mid-May, according to forecast models from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. According to these forecasts, the number of deaths in India from this pandemic could reach more than 13,000 cases per day – more than four times the current daily death toll.

Gathering in crowds despite warnings about the epidemic

Indian Prime Minister Modi and his BJP party have faced criticism for holding several large rallies in the eastern part of West Bengal attended by thousands of people between March and April, ahead of state elections. April 29 is the last day of voting in West Bengal.

CNN asked Taneja why his Bharatiya Janata Party continued to hold such events amid rising cases, but Taneja denied it. The spokesman said the Election Commission is independent.Indiabearresponsible for allowing election events to continue for a period of one and a half months.

Taneja explained that the BJP “has no choice” on whether to hold rallies or not as the Election Commission decides when to hold polls.

However, Taneja admitted that the gatherings had misled the public into thinking that the threat of Covid-19 had passed.
In February, the BJP passed a resolution declaring victory over Covid-19 and praising Prime Minister Modi as a “visionary”. Taneja said this was “overzealous” and that the statement was drafted by a small group within his party.

Spokesperson Taneja also said that the current Covid-19 situation has also forced India to accept international assistance for the first time in “14-15 years”./.