Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor, Omar Abdullah And Others Slam BJP’s Free Vaccine Promise In Bihar

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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.

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?’

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.

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

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.