The nation's health minister -- an otorhinolaryngologist named Harsh Vardhan under whose supervision India has confronted the worst pandemic in over a century -- asserts that India is better prepared in 2021 physically and mentally to handle COVID-19.
Dominic Xavier is startled by the minister's claim which may seem delusional at a time when India is saddened and shocked by the scenes of COVID-19 patients dying in its cities and towns and when those struck by coronavirus struggle to find hospital beds, oxygen and medicines.
COVID-19: 'The young are dying'
Modi's biggest crisis yet
'When the deadly second wave came, Modi got exposed'
'Death rate is very, very, very, very high'
'Not enough beds, not enough ventilators'