A major controversy erupted on Sunday, after the New Zealand High Commission in New Delhi appealed to the youth wing of the opposition Congress for medical oxygen through Twitter while India is reeling in a fury of the novel Coronavirus.
However, in a shocking turn of events, the High Commission quickly deleted the tweet – leaving numerous netizens to wonder if they had come under government pressure to do so.
The Congress, although shared photos on social media of its activists delivering the cylinders anyway.
The New Zealand High Commission apologized for its tweet on Sunday and clarified that their appeal to arrange for oxygen cylinders was misinterpreted.
“We are trying all sources to arrange for oxygen cylinders urgently and our appeal has unfortunately been misinterpreted, for which we are sorry”, The New Zealand High Commission said.
We are trying all sources to arrange for oxygen cylinders urgently and our appeal has unfortunately been misinterpreted, for which we are sorry.
— NZ in India (@NZinIndia) May 2, 2021
Replying to the High Commission’s tweet, Srinivas B V, the National President of the Indian Youth Congress, through his official Twitter handle shared the pictures of the volunteers carrying the oxygen cylinders and informed, “We have reached New Zealand High Commission with oxygen cylinders.
Please open the gates and save a soul on time. #SOSIYC”.
We have reached New Zealand High Commission with oxygen cylinders.
Please open the gates and save a soul on time. #SOSIYC https://t.co/BzGwj0eKBQ pic.twitter.com/0UVM6GWS0r
— Srinivas BV (@srinivasiyc) May 2, 2021
The National President of the Indian Youth Congress issued an update about the same and highlighted that the New Zealand High Commission accepted the cylinders. He also informed that the High Commission also thanked the team of volunteers for their efforts and quick relief as the patient inside the embassy was critically ill.
“Update- New Zealand high commission opened gates of the embassy and accepted cylinders.
Also, they thanked the #SOSIYC team for this quick relief as patient inside embassy was critically ill”, Srinivas B V shared, giving an update on the efforts made by SOSIYC.
Update- New Zealand high commission opened gates of the embassy and accepted cylinders.
Also, they thanked the #SOSIYC team for this quick relief as patient inside embassy was critically ill. https://t.co/BzGwj0wm0q pic.twitter.com/vu6TUhD1r8
— Srinivas BV (@srinivasiyc) May 2, 2021
India has been facing the brunt of the second wave of the Covid-19 which has overwhelmed hospitals and left hundreds of patients dying from shortage of oxygen and medicines across the country.
Apart from the government, people, NGOs and independent volunteers have come ahead to aid the entire nation against Covid-19 that stands as a formidable challenge for India.