'If this is their mindset ... ': Mansukh Mandaviya hits back after Congress accuses him of targeting Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'

NEW DELHI: Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday hit out at the Congress for questioning his letter to Rahul Gandhi over Covid protocols during his Bharat Jodo Yatra.
"If someone thinks that how can a small person question special people, what can I say about their mindset? Questioning me on this is like obstructing me from doing my duty as health minister of the country," Mandaviya said reacting to objections raised by Congress leaders on his letter.
Mandaviya had on Tuesday written a letter to Rahul Gandhi and Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot asking them to adhere to Covid precautions during the Bharat Jodo Yatra or consider suspending the programme.

"It is my duty to ensure that Covid-19 doesn't spread in the country. 3 Rajasthan MPs had written to me that a number of Yatra participants have been detected Covid positive," Mandaviya said justifying his letter.
"I wrote the letter to Rahul Gandhi after consulting experts in the health ministry," he added.

Earlier today, the Union health minister held a high-level review meeting amid surge in Covid cases in China and some other countries.
Stating that Covid-19 is not over, the minister urged people to be on alert.
The Congress has accused the government of selectively picking on the Bharat Jodo Yatra because of its success.

"The BJP was taking out yatras in Karnataka and Rajasthan. Has health minister Mansukh Mandaviya sent letters to their organisers too?" Congress leader Pawan Khera asked.
"We are wondering why a similar letter was not sent to the president of BJP in Rajasthan Satish Punia who is carrying out a Janakrosh Yatra there. We understand there is not much of a response to that Janakrosh Yatra. There are no people there," he said.
The senior Congress leader said the BJP was taking out yet another yatra in Karnataka.

"Has the health minister also sent this letter to the Karnataka BJP. We want to know. Today, if you were to travel by air, nobody will ask you to wear a mask or use a sanitiser," said Khera.
All India Congress Committee general secretary (communication) Jairam Ramesh asked the BJP not to play politics on the matter.
“I can understand that the BJP is afraid and is in trouble after seeing the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra,” Ramesh said.

"Parliament is meeting normally. Masks are no longer compulsory anywhere including on flights. The BJP has taken out yatras in Rajasthan and Karnataka. There has been no advisory from the Centre to states of late except the one issued yesterday on genome sequencing," he said.
Jairam Ramesh also underlined that in March 2020, the Modi government allegedly "delayed" imposition of lockdown by at least a week to enable the toppling of the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh.
"Public health is far too serious a issue on which to play party politics. If there is a protocol for gatherings Bharat Jodo Yatra will abide by it undoubtedly," he said.
Watch Mansukh Mandaviya slams Congress for questioning his letter to Rahul Gandhi on Covid precautions