Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejrwal inaugurates new overflights in nation’s capital
New Delhi:
The coronavirus vaccine – when it’s finally ready – should be available free to all Indians, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday amid continuing controversy over the BJP’s decision to list Covid vaccines free in his manifesto for Bihar’s elections next week.
“The whole country should receive a free vaccine, the whole country has the right …”, said Mr. Kejriwal today, while inaugurating a new flyover in the districts of Shastri Park and Seelampur in Delhi.
This is the second time that the head of the PAA has spoken on the subject. Earlier, Mr Kejriwal’s party had glanced at the BJP, asking if Indians who did not vote for them would also get free vaccines.
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Thursday that the “first promise mentioned in our poll manifesto” was that everyone in Bihar would get free vaccines against the coronavirus.
The Bihar poll promise has been met with shock and indignation by opposition leaders and others, leaving the BJP to push back claims it was using the vaccine promise – for an infectious and deadly disease that has already killed more than a lakh of people in India alone – for his political agenda.
Despite the criticism that followed – Congressman Rahul Gandhi, southern actor-politician Kamal Haasan and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah were among those who attacked the BJP – Tamil Nadu (where the BJP is allied with the ruling AIADMK) and Madhya Pradesh (where the party is in exclusive power) have also promised free vaccines.
The initially silent BJP then responded via Bihar leader Bhupender Yadav, who said the vaccine would be available at a nominal cost, which states could choose to bear. Mr Yadav attacked Congress for a “desperate” attempt to distort Ms Sitharaman’s statement.
The search for a viable Covid vaccine has become the focus of headlines around the world.
India has recorded more than 78 lakh cases since the pandemic began in China in December last year. Only the United States, with nearly 85 lakh cases, has more.
Delhi has so far recorded more than 3.48 lakh COVID-19 cases, including around 6,000 virus-related deaths. The number of active cases in the nation’s capital crossed the 26,000 mark on Friday, after a sustained surge in new infections over the past 10 days.
The city recorded more than 4,000 cases in 24 hours yesterday – the first time the mark has been crossed since September 19. With the start of the holiday season, experts fear another explosion of cases.
Earlier this week, Covaxin, the vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and one of three candidates being tested in the country, was cleared for the third and final phase clinical trials.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week ensured “rapid” access to the vaccine for all and suggested officials apply the lessons of the successful conduct of national elections in India to ensure delivery and distribution of vaccines.
