BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy on Monday penned an emotional note recalling his friendship with Dr. Manmohan Singh after the former prime minister of India was admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences for COVID-19 treatment. Swamy, however, reacted cautiously when reminded about Health Minister Harsh Vardhan’s controversial response to Singh’s letter suggesting the government five ways to control the latest surge in coronavirus cases.
Swamy wrote on Twitter, “I am deeply anguished that my friend of 53 years Dr. Manmohan Singh has been admitted AIIMS Covid 19 infection. My prayers are with him for a speedy recovery.”
I am deeply anguished that my friend of 53 years Dr. Manmohan Singh has been admitted AIIMS Covid 19 infection. My prayers are with him for a speedy recovery
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) April 19, 2021
Swamy had said in the past that Dr. Manmohan Singh was the only person with the knowledge of economy who served as the country’s finance minister in the recent past. He had told a TV channel, “Only person with the knowledge of economy holding the finance ministry was Manmohan Singh,” Swamy said.
On another occasion in 2018, Swamy had said that Dr. Manmohan Singh did wonders because he understood economics.
In response to Harsh Vardhan’s ‘undignified’ reply to Singh, Swamy chose to adopt a cautious approach as he said, “I believe that a letter bearing Harshvardhan’s signature has replied to it. So I don’t want to cross wires till I find out more.”
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan is facing widespread condemnation for his ‘undignified’ response to Manmohan Singh’s letter to PM Modi on ways to deal with the current coronavirus pandemic. Harsh Vardhan had said in his reply to Singh, “History shall be kinder to you Dr Manmohan Singh ji if your offer of ‘constructive cooperation’ and valuable advice was followed by your (Congress) leaders as well in such extraordinary times!”
In his letter on Sunday, Singh had suggested five ways to deal with the second wave of the pandemic. “The key to our fight against COVID-19 must be ramping up the vaccination effort. We must resist the temptation to look at the absolute numbers being vaccinated, and focus instead on the percentage of the population vaccinated,” the former PM had said.
