The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its manifesto for Bihar election 2020, seeking to reach out to the people in the state with a promise of a free coronavirus vaccine and an assurance of 19 lakh jobs over the next five years, if the party is elected to power.
Carrying the tagline ‘BJP hai to bharosa hai’ during the release of the Bihar election manifesto, the party promised free coronavirus vaccination for every household in the state once a vaccine is available for mass production in the country.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, after releasing the BJP manifesto for Bihar election, said, “As soon as a coronavirus vaccine will be available for production at a mass scale, every person in Bihar will get free vaccination. This is the first promise mentioned in our poll manifesto.”
As soon as a free coronavirus vaccine to all was announced, the Opposition starting taking digs, raising eyebrows and throwing questions at the ruling party over the promise.
SELLING FEAR OF DEATH: RJD
Attacking the BJP over its promise to give free coronavirus vaccination in Bihar in its manifesto. the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) said the saffron party was using the disease for politics and “selling the fear of death”.
In a tweet, RJD said, “Corona ka teeka desk ka hai, BJP ka nahi! Teeka ka rajnitik istemaal dikhata hai ki inke paas bimaari aur maut ka bhaye bechane ke alawa koie vikalp nahi hai. Bihari swabhimaani hain, chand paison mein apne baccho ka bhavishya nahi bechate.”
Rough translation: “Corona vaccine belongs to the country, not the BJP! The political use of the vaccine shows that they have no choice but to sell the fear of disease and death! Bihari is self-respecting, does not sell his children’s future in a small amount!”
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— Rashtriya Janata Dal (@RJDforIndia) October 22, 2020
BJP DOESN’T HAVE FACE HERE, FM HAD TO COME ALL THE WAY: TEJASHWI YADAV
On the fact that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had come to Bihar to release the BJP manifesto, the Opposition asked the minister why a special package was never announced for the state.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said, “BJP doesn’t have a face for Bihar polls. Finance Minister had to come to release the vision document. Since she’s here, Sitharaman Ji should first tell why she never gave a special package and special state status to Bihar.”
BJP doesn’t have a face for Bihar polls. Finance Minister had to come to release vision document. Since she’s here, Sitharaman Ji should first tell why she never gave a special package & special state status to Bihar: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on BJP’s manifesto for #BiharPolls pic.twitter.com/V01PAGY327
— ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2020
SHAMEFULLY EXPLOITING COVID FEARS: OMAR ABDULLAH
Former J&K Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah made a scathing attack on the BJP’s announcement of free vaccination in Bihar as a poll promise ahead of the Bihar election 2020, saying it “shamefully exploits coronavirus fears”.
Omar Abdullah also asked if the BJP would be paying for the coronavirus vaccine, which it promised to provide for free to people in Bihar, from the party treasury.
“Will BJP 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,” Omar Abdulah 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. https://t.co/ek796weG84
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 22, 2020
IS IT SAME AS RS 1.25 LAKH CRORE PACKAGE: SENA’S PRIYANKA CHATURVEDI
Tweeting with a hashtag ‘Asking For A Bihari Friend’, Shuv Sena’s Priyanka Chaturvedi the coronavirus vaccine, with candidates still in trial stages, has already become an election jumla. Priyanka Chaturvedi also asked if the free coronavirus vaccine promise was same as the promise of Rs 1.25 lakh crore package made during Bihar election 2015.
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“Is the promise of free COVID vaccine same as the 1.25 lakh crore package promised to the state in 2015? #AskingForABihariFriend,” Priyanka Chaturvedi tweeted.
IT’S STATE GOVT’S DECISION, SIMPLE: AMIT MALVIYA
Amit Malviya, in-charge of BJP’s national Information and Technology, later clarified. Amit Malviya said that the central government will provide vaccines to states at a nominal rate and it would be the state government’s decision if “they want to give it for free or otherwise”.
It was the Bihar BJP which has decided to give coronavirus vaccine for free, he said.
“BJP’s manifesto promises free Covid vaccine. Like all programs, center will provide vaccines to states at a nominal rate. It is for the state Govts to decide if they want to give it free or otherwise. Health being a state subject, Bihar BJP has decided to give it free. Simple,” Amit Malviya tweeted.