While Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath refuted claims of any shortage of beds or oxygen supply in public and private hospitals in the state, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that a huge number of people are failing to get a hospital bed in UP.
“In UP, huge people are not getting beds. I personally know huge, bona fide journalists who are not getting beds. With much difficulty, we got a bed,” Mehta told the top court as he opposed the plea to transfer Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan from Mathura jail to Delhi AIIMS.
“There are about 50 COVID patients with or without comordities in Mathura jail, and they are treated at Mathura hosptal. In Mathura, there are several COVID positive people with comorbidities who are not getting beds. There is huge resurgence (of COVID) in UP and people are not getting beds,” Mehta, appearing for Uttar Pradesh government told a bench led by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana.
Mehta became a top trend on social media after he admitted in the top court that UP was suffering from severe shortages of hospital beds.
“To stop Siddique Kappan from getting treatment in Delhi, SG Tushar Mehta, appearing for the govt ADMITTED in court that there is a shortage of hospital beds in Uttar Pradesh. When is Yogi Adityanath slapping NSA on him and seizing his property?” journalist Asmita Nandy asked.
“Yogi Adityanath’s lies have been thoroughly exposed by his own counsel in front of the court,” said Dr. Shama Mohamed, national spokesperson of Congress party.
The Supreme Court was hearing the habeas corpus petition filed by the Kerala Union of Working Journalists seeking the release of Siddique Kappan contending that he was unlawfully detained while doing his journalistic role of going to report the Hathras caste killing.
However, the top court overruled the objections raised by the Solicitor General, and ordered the shifting of Kappan from Mathura jail to a government hospital in Delhi like RML hospital or AIIMS.
