Taking Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to task over the Union Health Ministry’s remark stating “the aim is not to administer the vaccine to those who want it but to those who need it”, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said it is ridiculous to debate the needs and wants, adding every Indian deserves the chance to a safe life.
Expressing his ire against the government, Gandhi put forth his views on the micro-blogging platform Twitter. “It’s ridiculous to debate needs & wants. Every Indian deserves the chance to a safe life,” he tweeted.
The Congress leader’s outburst came a day after Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan ruled out the demands and suggestions put forth by various state governments to lower the age limit for the coronavirus vaccine so that more people could be inoculated.
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“Many people ask why should not we allow vaccination for all. There are two aims of such vaccination drives -- to prevent deaths and protect the healthcare system. The aim is not to administer the vaccine to those who want it, but to those who need it,” he said on Tuesday during a media interaction in the national capital on the Covid-19 situation in India.
Meanwhile, India continues to face the Covid-19 challenge as the daily new cases continue to rise. 1,15,736 new cases were registered in the last 24 hours, taking the tally to over 1,28,01,785.
India’s total active caseload has reached 8,43,473. Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh cumulatively account for 74.5% of India’s total active cases. Maharashtra alone accounts for 56.17% of the country’s total active caseload.
59,856 recoveries were registered in the last 24 hours while 630 people lost their lives to the virus.