Harsimrat Kaur said: “Using this life-saving vaccine as a voting tool is totally unethical.”
New Delhi:
BJP ally Akali Dal has joined the list of opposition parties that have been targeting the ruling BJP of Bihar for his pre-election promise of free Covid vaccines in the state. Calling the BJP’s promise ridiculous, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who until last month had been a minister in Narendra Modi’s government, said: “Using this life-saving vaccine as a voting tool is totally unethical.”
“Free vaccine only in Bihar? It’s ridiculous! Does the whole country pay no taxes or are they not equal citizens of India? It is the duty of the Government of India to vaccinate the whole country. Use this life-saving vaccine as a tool to Voting is unethical, Harsimrat Kaur Badal tweeted, joining his voice with that of Congress, the AAP and other opposition parties who have expressed their opinion on the issue since morning.
Free vaccine only in Bihar? It’s ridiculous! Does the whole country pay no taxes or are they not equal Indian citizens? It is the duty of the Government of India to vaccinate the entire country. Using this life-saving vaccine as a voting tool is totally unethical.#Vaccine# COVID-19
– Harsimrat Kaur Badal (@HarsimratBadal_) October 22, 2020
The Akali Dal had resigned from the government and subsequently the NDA last month over the three controversial farm bills that have sparked a storm of protests in Punjab and Haryana, the country’s cereal bowl.
The party, which had initially supported the bills, changed its stance midway after the farmers’ protests gained traction.
The vaccine issue has generated a lot of controversy since the morning, when the Union Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, presenting the BJP manifesto for Bihar, said: “As soon as a COVID-19 vaccine is available for production to On a large scale, all people in Bihar will receive free vaccination. ”
The minister also said it was the “first promise” mentioned in our manifesto.
Opposition parties have accused the BJP of using a life-saving issue to obtain votes in a state election. Many on social networks have also denounced what they called taking political advantage of what is the most anticipated vaccine in the world at the moment.
Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has questioned what would happen to opposition-ruled states and people who don’t vote for the BJP.
“The government just announced India’s Covid access strategy. Please check the state election calendar for when you will receive it, along with a bunch of false promises,” Rahul Gandhi from Congress tweeted.
In the evening, Tamil Nadu Prime Minister E Palaniswami, whose state is up for elections next year, made a similar promise of free vaccine. “Once the COVID-19 vaccine is ready, it will be delivered to everyone in the state at no cost,” announced the Chief Minister.
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