October 22, 2020 4:46:54 pm
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, along with BJP Secretary General Bhupendra Yadav and State Party Chairman Sanjay Jaiswal, publish a party manifesto ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections in Patna, on Thursday, October 22, 2020 (PTI).
BJP’s promise of Provide free Covid-19 vaccination for the people of Bihar. In his election manifesto, he drew widespread criticism on Thursday and opposition parties asked whether states not governed by the BJP will receive the vaccine for free.
In the manifesto, published by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the party said: “The NDA government in Bihar has set an example in the fight against the new coronavirus. It is our promise that when a vaccine for COVID becomes available after ICMR approval, all residents of Bihar will receive a free vaccine. “
Reacting sharply, the Opposition said that the promise of a vaccine in an election manifesto shows the “despair” of BJP and asked if “Indians who did not vote for BJP will not receive the free Covid vaccine.”
Former Congress Speaker Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet: “The Government of India has just announced India’s Covid Access Strategy. Please check the state election calendar for when you will get it, along with a bunch of false promises. “
Calling for strict action by the Election Commission, Congressional Leader Shashi Tharoor in a tweet said: “Tum mujhe vote do, mai tumhe vaccine… What dreadful cynicism! Will the Electoral Commission hit her and her shameless government on the knuckles?
??? ???? ??? ?? ??? ?????? ??????? …. What dreadful cynicism! Will the Electoral Commission hit her and her shameless government on the knuckles? https://t.co/ri1UlWWmgD
– Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 22, 2020
Chattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said the BJP is hinting that citizens of other non-electoral states will have to pay for the vaccine. The Congress party, on its Twitter account, asked: “Is the FM suggesting that citizens of other states will have to pay for the vaccine? Is the BJP government going to make Indian citizens pay to save their lives? All major vaccination programs, from polio to smallpox, have been free to our citizens, does BJP intend to reverse that?
Former J&K Chief Minister and National Conference Leader Omar Abdullah asked if the BJP will pay for vaccines from his own party treasury.
In a tweet, Abdullah wrote: “Will the BJP pay for these vaccines from the party treasury? If it comes from the government treasury, how can Bihar get free vaccines while the rest of the country has to pay? There is a lot wrong with this blatant populism shamefully exploiting Covid fears. “
Will be @ BJP4India pay for these vaccines with the party treasury? If it comes from the government treasury, 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 it shamefully exploits COVID fears. https://t.co/ek796weG84
– Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 22, 2020
The issue was also raised by the Aam Aadmi Party, led by Arvind Kejriwal. “What about states not governed by the BJP? Won’t Indians Who Didn’t Vote For BJP Get Free Covid Vaccine? the party said in a tweet.
What about states not governed by the BJP?
Won’t Indians Who Didn’t Vote For BJP Get Free Covid Vaccine? https://t.co/kjid5IC5aH
– AAP (@AamAadmiParty) October 22, 2020
RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha also said: “I am shocked. In a welfare state, which promises a vaccine for a pandemic, if it is part of an electoral manifesto, it shows the level of deterioration of their thinking ”.
‘State government decision’
Amid a spate of criticism from opposition leaders, BJP IT chief Amit Malviya, in a clarification, said that health is a matter of state.
“The BJP manifesto promises a free Covid vaccine. Like all programs, the center will provide vaccines to the states at a nominal rate. It is up to state governments to decide whether they want to give it free or not. With health being a state issue, Bihar BJP has decided to give it away. Simple, ”he said in a tweet.
The BJP manifesto promises a free Covid vaccine. Like all programs, the center will provide vaccines to the states at a nominal rate. It is up to state governments to decide whether they want to give it free or not. With health being a state issue, Bihar BJP has decided to give it away. Simple.
– Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) October 22, 2020
Issuing a similar clarification, BJP National Secretary General Bhupendar Yadav also said that the vaccine will be available to everyone at a nominal cost.
Responding to Tharoor’s tweet, Yadav said: “Your attempt to twist Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman’s statement reeks of desperation. All parties issue manifests. The vaccines will be available to all Indians at nominal costs. States can do it for free. In Bihar, we will. “
Meanwhile, activist Saket Gokhale also filed a complaint with the Election Commission regarding the electoral promise.
“This is not only discriminatory, but also a false promise and a flagrant abuse of the Central Government. powers during the elections, ”Gokhale tweeted, sharing a copy of the complaint.
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