THE two Left Parties, CPI(M) and CPI wrote a letter to Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi on April 19, 2021, in the midst of the surging pandemic seeking his urgent intervention. This letter was jointly signed by K M Tiwari and Dinesh Varshney, state secretaries of Delhi state committee of the CPI(M) and CPI respectively.
We reproduce this letter:

As Delhi is struggling with the caseload of Covid-19 patients with an increase in positivity rate to 30 per cent and an increased number of active cases, the Left Parties in Delhi would like to draw the following suggestions.

1) Along with the demand to augment more Covid beds in central government run hospitals in Delhi, large quarantine facilities needs to be readied by the state government. Delhi’s JJ clusters, unauthorised colonies and other high density working-class areas all would be needing it on an urgent basis to prevent spread of this deadly virus.

2) There were complaints of many designated private testing centres unwilling to do RT-PCR test in these difficult times. All private centres must be asked to conduct RT-PCR testing full-fledged at government stipulated rates and the state government also should put all-out efforts to accelerate testing.

3) Delhi should demand more vaccines to step up the effort of vaccination to even those below 45 years to cover daily wagers or workers who do not come under the purview of work from home.

4) Since the PDS is affected due to the non-distribution of ration cards, the state government must actively consider restarting last year’s plan of direct cash transfers, distribution of 35 kg free foodgrains and community kitchens/food distribution to all needy households/migrant workers. This would prevent the mass exodus of migrant workers witnessed by Delhi last year.

Lastly, needless to add that the Left Parties would ensure maximum co-operation in the efforts of the state government in fighting this deadly pandemic.