12 Indian ministers step down

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and Minister of State for Health Ashwini Chaube among 12 ministers of India’s central government on Wednesday (July 7) resigned hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet reshuffle.

The resignation of both Health Ministers comes as the government battles criticism of its handling of the second wave of Covid in April-May, which ambushed India's health infrastructure and left tens of thousands desperate for oxygen, hospital beds and vaccine. As cases dip, the government's next priority is to stave off a third wave of the virus.

This hinges on the government's vaccination plan, which is under the Health Ministry and is also seen to be floundering.

Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar have also quit. So have Babul Supriyo, Sadananda Gowda, Debashree Chaudhuri, Sanjay Dhotre, Ratan Lal Kataria, Rao Saheb Dhanve Patil, Thawarchand Gehlot and Pratap Chandra Sarangi. _NDTV