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Several opposition leaders have slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party for promising free COVID-19 vaccines in its Bihar poll manifesto and demanded action by the Election Commission, while alleging that the ruling party was using the pandemic for political gains.
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the BJP, saying one has to refer to the state-wise election schedule to know when one will have access to the vaccine.
GOI 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.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 22, 2020
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor tweeted a video of Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman, saying, ‘You give me vote, I will give you vaccine…What appalling cynicism! Will the EC rap her and her shameless Government on the knuckles?’
तुम मुझे वोट दो मैं तुम्हे वैक्सीन …. what appalling cynicism! Will the ElectionCommission rap her & her shameless Govt on the knuckles? https://t.co/ri1UlWWmgD
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 22, 2020
Omar Abdullah, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister tweeted , 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.
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
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 22, 2020
Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena , Rajya Sabha MP told news agency ANI, Earlier it used to be – ‘tum mujhe khoon do,main tumhe azadi dunga’ & now it’s – ‘tum mujhe vote do,hum tumhe vaccine denge’.Only those who vote for BJP will get vaccine, it shows BJP’s discriminatory nature.
Kapil Sibal , Senor Congress leader tweeted, saying the announcement was the The Ultimate Poll Promise Jumla
Bihar Assembly Elections
The Ultimate Poll Promise Jumla :
Free vaccine against COVID-19 for residents of Bihar
No vaccine in sight
But why for Bihar residents only ?
Are residents of other states not residents of India ?
Election Commission should step in
— Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) October 23, 2020
The Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress, Shiv Sena, Samajwadi Party and the National Conference all raised questions on the BJP’s poll promise of free vaccine for Bihar, alleging that it is politicising the matter.
Facing heat BJP, however, said health is a state subject and its manifesto is for Bihar, not for the entire country, where it has promised that the state will buy the vaccine for its people.
