MNM chief Kamal Haasan attacked the BJP and its Tamil Nadu ally the AIADMK (Archive)
Chennai:
Actor and politician Kamal Haasan criticized the ruling BJP and his Tamil Nadu ally AIADMK for a “free vaccine” promise the party made yesterday while publishing its manifesto for next week’s Bihar elections. The criticism comes a day after Tamil Nadu, the actor’s home state, where the BJP is allied with AIADMK, made an identical promise.
Attacking an “evil promise for a non-existent vaccine”, Kamal Haasan said: “A vaccine is a life-saving drug, not a spray promise.”
“You are used to playing with people’s poverty. If you dare to play with their lives, your political life will be decided by the people,” the head of MNM (Makkal Needhi Maiam) said on Friday night.
Chief Minister E Palaniswami, whose state is due to hold elections next year, said: “Once the COVID-19 vaccine is ready, it will be provided to everyone in the state for free.”
On Thursday, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the “first promise mentioned in our election manifesto” was that everyone in Bihar would receive free vaccines against the coronavirus.
The promise of the Bihar poll was greeted with surprise and outrage by opposition leaders and others, leaving the BJP rejecting allegations that it was using the promise of a vaccine, for a fatal infectious disease that has already killed more. of a lakh of people in India alone. for your political agenda.
Despite the wave of criticism that followed, Congressional MP Rahul Gandhi and Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were among those who attacked the BJP, Madhya Pradesh, where the party has sole power, also promised free vaccines.
Check state election schedules to find out when to get the Covid vaccine, Gandhi joked.
GOI 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 (@RahulGandhi) October 22, 2020
Mr Kejriwal asked, “What about the states not governed by the BJP? The Indians who did not vote for the BJP will not get the free Covid vaccine.”
The leader of the National Conference, Omar Abdullah, called it blatant populism, and Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena, whose party was allied with the BJP until October last year, said it showed the “discriminatory nature” of the BJP.
The initially quiet BJP later responded through Bihar leader Bhupender Yadav, who said the vaccine would be available at a nominal cost, which states could choose to pay for.
“Their attempt (by Congress) to misrepresent Nirmala Sitharaman’s statement reeks of desperation. All parties issue manifestos. Vaccines will be available to all Indians at nominal costs. States can make it free. In Bihar, we will,” he stated .
The search for a viable Covid vaccine has become the focus of headlines around the world. India has recorded more than 77.6 billion cases since the pandemic began in China in December last year. Only the United States, with 84 lakh cases, has more.
On Thursday, Covaxin, the vaccine being developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), was approved for the third phase of clinical trials.
Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ensured “rapid” access to the vaccine for all and suggested that officials apply the lessons of the successful conduct of national elections in India to ensure delivery and distribution of the vaccine.
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