Former Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan Dropped in Cabinet Re- Shuffle….
Six cabinet ministers were dropped from their position on Wednesday last week, which included Ravi Shankar Prasad (Law, Communications, electronics, and information technology), Prakash Javadekar ( environment and information and broadcasting), Dr. Harsh Vardhan (Health), Ramesh Pokhriyal (education), D.V. Sadananda Gowda (chemical & fertilizers) and Thaawar Chand Gehlot (social justice and empowerment).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a meeting on 30th June which lasted over five hours. The meeting was held to decide on the new selectees and those who could be dropped.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan Union Health Minister has also been dropped from his position. Vardhan has been dropped for the second time since the NDA government took charge in 2014.
According to government officials, it has been asserted that Vardhan has not been able to predict and control the situation of Covid 19 as required in the country rather than just responding after things happened.
Niti Aayog Member (health) Dr. V.K.Paul emerged as the voice of reassurance, and the government, especially during the second wave.
Home Minister Amit Shah guided to take control of the situation in Delhi when there was first erupt of Covid 19 in June 2020. Former Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan was missing in action during the most critical times which gave rise to many questions.
As Delhi witnessed numerous deaths during the second wave, Harsh Vardhan was mostly seen in counter- argument with the former Congress President Rahul Gandhi.
The severity of the second wave and the inability of the government to handle the situation efficiently left the world shattered. The inept handling of the second wave was slammed for presiding over a massive human tragedy, numerous people lost their lives due to the unavailability of hospital beds and lack of oxygen. Many people who tested positive and had severe complications were denied getting admitted to government hospitals due to insufficient availability of beds. Many lost their lives due to insufficient oxygen supply.
Bodies of the deceased buried under the sand during the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic, near the banks of Ganga river, in Prayagraj, Saturday, May 15, 2021. (PTI)
India has been overwhelmed by the devastating second wave of the pandemic. The extent of deaths left burial and cremation grounds insufficient that dead bodies were even cremated in the banks of river Ganga and many bodies were disposed of in the river itself.
India’s special environment court had also criticized the government for its failure to curb river pollution.
The Covid 19 pandemic has proved to be boisterous for health ministers of several countries. Brazil has seen four health ministers since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Czech Republic has also seen five health ministers.
