Following a disastrous increase of Covid-19 cases earlier this year, twelve Indian politicians resigned on Wednesday, including the health minister.
The resignations are part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s significant overhaul ahead of seven state elections in 2022.
During the outbreak of illnesses in April and May, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, 66, received a lot of flak.
Hospitals were running short of beds, medical oxygen, and medications in several locations, putting a strain on the health sector.
New virus strains were blamed for the Covid-19 explosion, and the government has permitted enormous religious and political rallies in January, February, and March.
In January, Modi declared victory over the virus. Still, opponents say his government did not take advantage of the extra time to prepare the notoriously underfunded health system for another wave.
India’s official death toll has risen from approximately 160,000 at the end of March to over 400,000 currently, making it the world’s third-highest.
However, many experts believe that the true number of deaths might be several times higher owing to undercounting and inaccurate documentation of the cause of death.
