How WHO report on excess COVID deaths has become a political row in India

A latest report on COVID deaths by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has brought it at loggerheads with the Central government, which has “strongly objected” to it. India contended that the WHO report, which was based on a mathematical report, was “totally removed from reality”, adding that the system of data collection was “statistically unsound and scientifically questionable”. If on one hand leaders of the BJP-led government took to social media to refute the WHO report, on the other hand they also had to tackle barbs by opposition leaders. As the WHO and India continue to trade charges, we take a closer look at what is the report and how political leaders have reacted to it: What the WHO said? On Thursday, the WHO said that the full death toll associated directly or indirectly with the COVID-19 pandemic (described as “excess mortality”) between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021 was approximately 14.9 million. For the unversed, excess mortality is calculated as the difference between the number of deaths that have occurred and the number that would be expected in the absence of the pandemic based on data from earlier years. In its report, the WHO report pegs India’s COVID-19 excess deaths at 47,40,894 during 2020 and 2021. The government’s data for the same period puts the number at 4,81,486. This shows that WHO’s numbers are 10 times the official figures and almost a third of COVID-19 deaths globally. Also read: Explained: Why India is disproving WHO’s report on excess COVID-19 deaths The WHO in its report said the estimates may not be regarded as the national statistics officially produced by India due to differences arising from the data and methods used by WHO. It noted that the information from the Civil Registration System (CRS) in India for 2020 was made publicly available by the Registrar General of India (RGI) on 3 May in a report. The newly published information in the report is being carefully examined and will be taken into consideration in revisions of the estimates. On the methodology it used for the report, the WHO said, as per a Business Standard report, “For India, we use a variety of sources for the registered number of deaths at the state and union territory level. The information was either reported directly by the states through official reports and automatic vital registration, or by journalists who obtained death registration information through Right To Information requests.” What did the Ministry of Health say? First to reject the WHO report was the Ministry of Health, which objected to the use of mathematical models, saying validity and robustness of the models used and methodology of data collection are questionable. “Despite India’s objection to the process, methodology and outcome of this modelling exercise, WHO has released the excess mortality estimates without adequately addressing India’s concerns,” the health ministry said in a statement.

Excess #COVID Mortality Estimates by @WHO: A rejoinder#India strongly objects to use of mathematical models for projecting excess mortality estimates in view of availability of authentic datahttps://t.co/u51mfvzH6t pic.twitter.com/OHP6e32W6y

— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) May 5, 2022

The ensuing political row Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi took the charge against the BJP government by alleging, “Science doesn’t LIE. Modi does.” He also demanded the mandatory Rs 4 lakh compensation to the families of the deceased.

47 lakh Indians died due to the Covid pandemic. NOT 4.8 lakh as claimed by the Govt.

Science doesn't LIE. Modi does.

Respect families who've lost loved ones. Support them with the mandated ₹4 lakh compensation. pic.twitter.com/p9y1VdVFsA

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 6, 2022

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The BJP’s Karnataka unit challenged Gandhi to give “scientific data from states ruled by CONgress & its friends”.

Could you please furnish the details of the 47 lakh Indians who died during the Chinese Virus pandemic?

Let us start with scientific data from States ruled by CONgress & its friends.

Do you believe your Government or that WHO?

What say PERPETUAL LIAR @RahulGandhi? https://t.co/sDwIlhIXpS

— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) May 6, 2022

The Congress party also took to Twitter to slam the Central government for “the mismanagement of the COVID pandemic”.

As per govt's civil registration report, 45% of people who died in 2020 didn't get any medical attention at the time of death.

The mismanagement of the COVID pandemic by the govt is not hidden from anyone.

: Prof @GouravVallabh#PeopleDiedBJPLied pic.twitter.com/5fL1Z7XKpR

— Congress (@INCIndia) May 6, 2022

The WHO has revealed that India had the maximum Covid deaths in the world.
This comes as no surprise to the rest of us who actually understood the ground reality and felt the devastation.
Unfortunately, the BJP govt continues to stay in denial. #PeopleDiedBJPLied pic.twitter.com/kXF0HnT8kH

— Congress (@INCIndia) May 6, 2022

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said that it was “shameful that Modi Govt isn’t taking responsibility even now”

On 20 July 2021, I had said in Parliament that the actual Covid deaths, as per my estimate, would be much more.

Now WHO has also claimed at least 47 lakh excess deaths due to COVID in India; HIGHEST IN THE WORLD!

It's shameful that Modi Govt isn't taking responsibility even now pic.twitter.com/QixomzEqsi

— Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha (@LoPIndia) May 6, 2022

The BJP in return held a press conference to explain how the WHO data is wrong. In a series of tweets, the party said that there were four reasons why they believe the data is wrong.

4 महत्वपूर्ण ऐसे कदम हैं जिसके आधार पर हमें लगता है कि WHO का डेटा गलत है।

1- पूरी प्रक्रिया में WHO ने जिस प्रकार के तरीकों को अपनाया है, वो गलत है।

2- डेटा के स्रोत में एक्यूरेसी होनी चाहिए, जबकि WHO ने माना है कि स्रोत वैरिफाइड नहीं हैं।

- डॉ @sambitswaraj pic.twitter.com/z3oD8MYjOD

— BJP (@BJP4India) May 6, 2022

3- किन मानदंड के आधार पर भारत को टियर-2 देश में रखा गया है, ये भी सटीक रूप से पता नहीं चलता।

4- काल्पनिक तरीके से डेटा का मंथन करना, भारत को टियर-2 देशों में रखना, इन सब विषयों पर भारत ने समय-समय पर WHO से वार्तालाप किया है।

- डॉ @sambitswaraj pic.twitter.com/qTg3u1vk37

— BJP (@BJP4India) May 6, 2022

With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News , Trending News ,  Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.