Summary:
New Delhi, Dec 3 (PTI) Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday asked the Opposition 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 up its production to meet the surge in demand.
Responding to queries in Lok Sabha during 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.
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.