Do not look at numbers, focus on testing: PM to Maharashtra government

New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the CMs of different states to discuss the current coronavirus situation which is on peak of all-time. He pointed out row between Maharashtra government and health ministry over coronavirus vaccine; made it clear that he does not support any type of political endorsement in matters related to coronavirus pandemic.

"With number of coronavirus cases rising in the nation, the states started competing with each other," PM Modi said. "This state is completely useless, its numbers are so high. That state is doing so well. Comparing various states became a fashion," he added.

"I told you that you shouldn't worry a bit if the number of cases is high. Don't be under any kind of pressure that your performance is bad because your numbers are high. You just focus on testing, I'm telling you even now. There is no reason to think you are doing badly if your numbers are high...There will be more positive cases if you do more testing," he added in what was seen as a reassurance to the Maharashtra government.

In last 24 hours, Maharashtra has registered around 59,000 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday.

Since Tuesday evening, the state has been claiming that there is a shortage of vaccines. But Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan slammed the state for misleading people. 

"The inability of Maharashtra government to act responsibly is beyond comprehension... The lackadaisical attitude of the state government has singularly bogged down the entire country's efforts to fight the virus," Dr Harsh Vardhan had said.