Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen Blames Centre's "Schizophrenia" For Covid Crisis In India

COVID-19 India: "It (government) was trying to generate the credit boasting across the world that India will save the world perhaps. And at the same time, allowing the problem to develop and have a grip over the lives of Indians across the country," Amartya Sen said.

India's "confused" government focused on taking credit for its actions, rather than working to restrict the spread of COVID-19, resulting in schizophrenia that led to massive troubles, Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has said. India was better placed to fight the pandemic because of its pharma manufacturing prowess and also higher immunity levels, the noted economist said while speaking at an event organised by the Rashtra Seva Dal late Friday evening. Amartya Sen's remarks came in the backdrop of the second wave of the pandemic seeing the number of officially reported cases topping over 4 lakh a day and over 4,500 deaths daily, and also concerns over alleged under-reporting. Some eminent personalities have said a sense of early "triumphalism" led to the crisis. Amartya Sen said India could not play on its strengths because of a poor response to the crisis due to confusion in the government.