Firebrand BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has blasted BMC Commissioner, IS Chahal, for claiming credit for reducing numbers of coronavirus cases in Mumbai city and said that BMC’s own Sero Survey has revealed that 57% slum dwellers have developed immunity which is why the cases are coming down.  

While speaking to Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now, during the third episode of the Visionary Talk series organized by the public policy platform today, Somaiya criticised Chahal and the Maharashtra government for claiming credit in bringing down the virus cases in the slum sprawl of Dharavi which has come to be known as the ‘Dharavi Model’ and acknowledged by WHO.

Somaiya wondered if the death of around 10,000 people has given automatic power to the BMC commissioner and the state government. “Does the MC have no shame when he takes credit for reducing the number of deaths and himself issues a statement that 57% slum people have developed immunity? Does he or the Maharashtra government have any idea how people have suffered running around hospital, paying inflated bills, spending their entire life savings for treatment of virus, loss of family members and their  breadwinners?’’

Coming down heavily on the BMC claims, the BJP leader said, “When the body develops immunity, cases have to come down and, after all, it has to stop somewhere. So where is the need for a commissioner?”

Somaiya also said that the BMC is suppressing figures so that the real figures do not come out. “BMC’s own sero survey says that 57% people developed immunity which means they did have corona and have survived," he said.