"They're Not Proud Of Anything Indian": BJP Slams Congress & Opposition Over Covid-19 Vaccine

While on one hand the central government celebrates the approval of two Coronavirus vaccine candidates, Congress and other opposition leaders have raised concerns over the grant of permission without phase-3 trails.

BJP President JP Nadda (PTI)

In a major breakthrough for India amid the ongoing battle against novel Coronavirus, India's drugs regulator on Sunday approved Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in India. The Drug Controller General of India VG Somani said both firms submitted data on their trial runs and both have been granted permission for "restricted use". The first emergency vaccine has been welcomed by Prime Minister Modi, many world leaders and organisations including the World Health Organisation. The WHO hailed the move for approving the emergency authroization of the two vaccines and said that this will strengthen the world's fight against the virus. While on one hand the central government celebrates the approval of two Coronavirus vaccine candidates for restricted emergency use in the country, Congress and other several other opposition leaders have raised concerns over the grant of permission without phase-3 trails.

Congress Leaders Question Covid Vaccine Approval

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh in a Twitter post said that though Bharat Biotech is a first-rate enterprise, internationally accepted protocols relating to phase three trials of the vaccine are being modified for Covaxin.

Speaking on the same note, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor claimed that the approval to Bharat Biotech was premature.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, too, said that the coronavirus vaccination programme was a sensitive process and the Centre should not treat it like a ‘sajaawati-dikhaawati’ (cosmetic) event. "I am not going to get vaccinated for now. How can I trust BJP’s vaccine, when our government will be formed everyone will get free vaccine. We cannot take BJP’s vaccine," the SP president said on Saturday.

BJP Hits Back Saying "Opposition Not Proud Of Anything Indian"

Hours after the DCGI on Sunday gave green signal to two vaccine candidates for restricted, emergency use, several leaders and ministers took to Twitter congratulating the collaborative efforts of scientists, vaccine makers and the central government. While Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah heaped praises for coming up with indigenous solutions against Covid-19, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri slammed opposition leaders Jairam, Tharoor and Akhilesh saying "they are behaving true to form." "They first questioned the valour of our soldiers and now unhappy that the two vaccines to get DCGI nod are made in India. Clearly, they are on a quest for permanent political marginalisation."

BJP national president JP Nadda also slammed the Congress and opposition saying they are trying to cause panic in the minds of the people.