Vaccine controversy in Bihar poll

Jubilee News Desk

While the world is looking forward to unanimous vaccination drive for covid, the BJP has made it political by announcing free covid vaccination in Bihar, in its election manifesto. This is first time that a vaccine is put in to poll manifesto.

BJP’s “free coronavirus vaccination for all” promise in Bihar has become hugely controversial with the ruling party fending off allegations of an attempt to use the vaccine for its political agenda.

“As soon as a COVID-19 vaccine is available for production at a mass scale, every person in Bihar will get free vaccination. This is the first promise mentioned in our poll manifesto,” Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said today, announcing the BJP’s manifesto for the Bihar election, a news agency reported.

On this developed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi quipped. “Government just announced India’s Covid access strategy. Kindly refer to the state-wise election schedule to know when will you get it, along with a hoard of false promises,” the former Congress chief tweeted.

Delhi CM and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal’s also asked “What about non-BJP ruled states? Indians who didn’t vote BJP will not get free Covid vaccine?”

Union Minister of State for Health Ashwani Chaubey tried to faced the question and dilute the controversy. “The corona vaccine is being made across the world. When it is ready, we have prepared an elaborate plan on distributing the vaccine, who will be given preference etc… Every state will be given free coronavirus vaccine,” the minister told reporters.

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Shortly after Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tweeted: “Tum mujhe vote do main tumhe vaccine (Give me votes, I will give you vaccine)… what appalling cynicism!” National Conference leader Omar Abdullah called it blatant populism.

Soon, a top Bihar BJP leader, Bhupinder Yadav, put out a clarification in response to Shashi Tharoor’s post and said the vaccine would be available at a nominal cost – not free – but it would be up to states to bear the cost.

Vaccine will be coming when it is scheduled to arrive after trials and mass production but for now it has secured place in Bihar elections