What About Other States? BJP's Promise Of Free COVID Vaccine For Everyone In Bihar Courts Controversy
As the election battle heats up in Bihar the BJP has made an unusual poll promise. After the approval of the coronavirus vaccine from ICMR every person in the State will get vaccinated free of cost. This comes even as the Health Ministry and ICMR are expecting the first phase of vaccination has been tentatively scheduled between January and July 2021.
As the election battle heats up in Bihar, the BJP has made an unusual poll promise. Unlike the usual promises of better roads, jobs, and others, this time the BJP has said that after the approval of the coronavirus vaccine from ICMR, every person in the State will get vaccinated free of cost.
¡°In the fight against coronavirus, the NDA government has set an example in the country. It is our resolution that as soon as the vaccine will be approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), every person in the State will be vaccinated,¡± the party's election manifesto stated.
"As soon as COVID-19 vaccine will be 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.¡± Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Thursday while unveiling the manifesto.
As soon as #COVID19 vaccine will be 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 Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at the launch of BJP Manifesto for #BiharPolls pic.twitter.com/x4VjVmkA3Q
¡ª ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2020
Modi's Finance Minister promises free #COVID19 vaccine for Bihar only - Is Bihar the only state affected by the pandemic or the only state going to the election next week? Modi regime has no shame and the Election Commission has no voice. https://t.co/3Wz52wN9zB
¡ª Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) October 22, 2020
The senior BJP leader said that Bihar is one State where all citizens are politically sensitive and well informed.
"They know and understand the promises a party makes. If anyone raises questions on our manifesto, we can answer them with confidence as we fulfill what we promised," she added.
This comes even as the Health Ministry and ICMR are expecting the first phase of vaccination has been tentatively scheduled between January and July 2021.
According to Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan, about 30 million frontline healthcare workers will be the first to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in India.
"The expert committee on vaccine has been working on a draft prioritisation plan of the number of people to be vaccinated to the number of doses of vaccine that would be available from early January-July next year," he said in a briefing.
As expected the promise of free vaccine for everyone in Bihar did not go down well with many, who questioned, why only for one state?
Politicisation of vaccine!
¡ª THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) October 22, 2020
Centre has not yet said that the vaccine will be free for all Indians but for Bihar they are promising it free for all just because they've polls. This is very unfortunate. What if Bihar don't vote BJP? Will they not get it free then? Non sense!
What if Bihar won't vote for BJP ? Will they get the vaccine free or not ? And what about other states of India ? Aren't they eligible to get free vaccine ? Politicisation of vaccine by centre what else can you expect from an incompetent govt ?
¡ª Surbhi (@SurrbhiM) October 22, 2020
Hopefully it will mean free for everyone. It is a good investment in the health of the country.
¡ª Harini Calamur (#StayHome) (@calamur) October 22, 2020
Those of us who can afford it, can always donate back to the govt. But it is great news for most of India https://t.co/ATjm5WcIxY
Will @BJP4India be paying for these vaccines from the party treasury? If it¡¯s coming from the government treasury then how can Bihar get free vaccines while the rest of the country has to pay? There is so much wrong with this blatant populism that shamefully exploits COVID fears. https://t.co/ek796weG84
¡ª Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 22, 2020
Meanwhile, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare has clarified that the free COVID-19 vaccine will not only be for Bihar but for every state.
Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
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