Bihar polls: Free rice and TV is fine but not free vaccine, asks BJP; Congress says don’t play with lives

As electioneering for the Bihar assembly polls enters its final leg, the war of words between the BJP and the Opposition has further intensified with each accusing the other of indulging in petty politics. The latest in this chain is the controversy over the BJP’s promise of providing a free Covid-19 vaccine to Bihar if the NDA is voted to power again.

The Congress and other opposition parties have alleged that the BJP is doing politics over a sensitive issue like a Covid-19 vaccine, however the BJP says it is raising a public health issue.

“Is this the first and only vaccine that will be provided free-of-cost to the people by a government? What we have promised today in our manifesto is not new. Many vaccines have been provided free-of-cost in the past,” said BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi, during a show on India Today TV.

He asked if it is fine for parties to promise free rice and free electricity in their manifestoes, why is there an outcry over the promise of a free vaccine.

“Promising free rice, free water, free electricity, free TV, free bicycle is fine? But free vaccines, which is a primary health care issue at present, becomes a political gimmick?” he asked.

Responding to this, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said while it is true that governments in the past have provided free vaccines, but “no party has done what the BJP is doing i.e. linking right to life with votes”.

“The subtext of the BJP’s promise of free vaccine that was made today is that if you don’t vote for us, you won’t get the vaccine for free. If you vote for us, you have the right to live, you will get a free vaccine but if you don’t, then you don’t have a right to live,” Pawan Khera said.

He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi could have made the free vaccine promise in his address to the nation on Tuesday. “The moment you bring it in the election manifesto, you are linking it with votes.”

On the BJP’s comparison of its free vaccine promise with past promises like free rice and free TV, Pawan Khera said the two are incomparable because vaccine is a “matter of life and death”.

“You can’t be playing with people’s fear for votes. Covid-19 is a deadly disease and you can’t make right to life conditional based on whom you vote for,” the Congress leader said.

However, the BJP rejected these charges and said the Congress is fearful that the NDA will return to power and deliver its promise.

“It is not an issue of fear, it is rather the issue of compassion. Health is a state subject. Wherever we are in power, we will ensure (that the vaccine is free). It is up to the state governments to decide if they want to give it for free. If the Opposition comes to power, it is up to them to decide. The Congress is fearful because it knows that we (NDA) will come to power again and deliver our promise of free vaccine,” Sudhanshu Trivedi said.

Meanwhile, soon after the BJP promised a free Covid-19 vaccine in its election manifesto for Bihar, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palanisamy announced that his government too would be providing Covid-19 vaccine free-of-cost in the state. BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh too has announced the same.

While Madhya Pradesh has byelections to 28 assembly seats on November 3, Tamil Nadu will be going to polls in seven-eight months.

ALSO READ | BJP promises free coronavirus vaccine for all, 19 lakh jobs in Bihar election manifesto

ALSO READ | ‘BJP selling fear of death’: Opposition attacks saffron party’s free Covid-19 vaccine promise in Bihar manifesto

ALSO WATCH | Bihar polls: Congress slams PM Modi over BJP’s ‘free Covid vaccine’ promise



Source link

Leave a comment