Modi's health minister quits as India braces for third COVID wave

Opposition pounces on cabinet reshuffle, calling it a 'failed' pandemic response

Indian Health Minister Harsh Vardhan holds a dose of Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 vaccine called Covaxin in January. Vardhan resigned on July 7. © Reuters

KIRAN SHARMA, Nikkei staff writer

July 8, 2021 01:50 JST

Updated on July 8, 2021 03:46 JST

NEW DELHI -- India's Health Minister Harsh Vardhan resigned on Wednesday amid a storm of criticism of the government's handling of the deadly second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.