New Delhi, Aug 16 (UNI) The Delhi government has again sought approval from the Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal to constitute a high-level committee that will investigate the death of Covid-19 patients who lost their lives to alleged oxygen shortage in the national capital amid the devastating second wave.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia informed on Monday that the AAP government has sent a file to the LG office containing the formation of probe committee demand.
The minister also said that he has written a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah apprising him of the circumstances and developments in the matter of the oxygen death probe, including the tiff with the LG on the subject.
"I have written to HM Amit Shah and made him aware of the scenario we witnessed when hospitals were raising SOS calls as widespread shortage of beds and oxygen in Delhi unfolded amid the peak of the second wave. I have told him that while centres and courts want to know the figures of those who died in dearth of oxygen supply, it is not sensible to cover the extent of this tragedy without proper investigation," Sisodia informed during a digital address.
He also said that he has specified in the letter to Shah that the UT government had formed a committee to investigate the oxygen-related deaths and to provide compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the victims' families, but the proposal was refused by LG.
"If people are dying due to lack of oxygen supply in the 21st century, then it is a big question on the system and the progress we have made. A responsible government should not run away from accountability, instead, should not cover up and must allow fair investigation so that faults can be discovered," Sisodia said.
"It can't be denied that people died due to lack of oxygen supply and repeatedly maintained our demand to investigate it thoroughly and that is why sent the file again to the LG office to approve the committee constituted to probe the deaths," he added.
The AAP government had set up a four-member committee in June to probe oxygen-related deaths and award compensation to the families of the deceased. It had sought approval from the Centre which the LG denied.
UNI ASH SHK1719