Mumbai: Shivsena-BJP trade charges over Dharavi-pattern; claim credit for success

Mumbai: Shivsena-BJP trade charges over Dharavi-pattern; claim credit for success

Mumbai: The Shivsena and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) traded charges over and claimed credit for the success of Dharavi pattern in containing the spread of COVID-19 cases a day after the World Health Organisation (WHO) lauded their efforts.

BJP State President Chandrakant Patil has said that the credit for the Dharavi pattern goes to the hard work done by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) volunteers and not to the state government, as these volunteers have risked their lives and worked in the most densely populated slum in Asia.

Patil had also criticized Shivsena government in the state saying that "We are happy that the COVID-19 outbreak situation is under control in Mumbai, but does that mean that we should not speak against the corruption done by the state government? We will raise these issues of corruption by Sena leaders during the COVID crisis."

Shivsena Member of Parliament Rahul Shevale had criticized Patil for this statement and said that BJP is trying to usurp credit for the government's work. "Dharavikar's themselves will give an answer to the BJP about who has taken the real efforts to control the spread of coronavirus in the slum. The state government, Municipal Corporation, doctors, police, local elected representatives and Dharavi citizens deserve the credit for this success," Shevale said.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak dating April 1, about 2282 cases which amount to only three per cent of Mumbai's total, and 80 deaths have been reported till July 1.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of World Health Organisation on July 10 said, "Only aggressive action combined with national unity and global solidarity can turn the COVID-19 pandemic around. There are many examples from around the world that have shown that even if the COVID-19 outbreak is very intense, it can still be brought back under control. Italy, Spain and South Korea, even in Dharavi - a densely packed area in Mumbai - a strong focus on community engagement & the basics of testing, tracing, isolating & treating all those that are sick is key to breaking the chains of transmission & suppressing the virus."

Aditya, son of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray replied saying, "This is huge for our very own Dharavi that has chased the virus. The state government and BMC teams, along with NGOs, elected representatives and most importantly, Dharavikars! Let's keep this going! Thank you WHO for recognising their efforts, and will keep going on."

Edited by:

Najooka Javier

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