India will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of 2021, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar declared Friday, as the centre lashed out after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi pointed out that less than three per cent of the country’s 130 crore people had received both doses.
Mr Javadekar drew Rahul Gandhi’s attention to a Union Health Ministry “blueprint” that, he said, would ensure the vaccination of 108 crore people by December, and reminded him “India is the second-fastest in vaccinating its people”.
“India’s vaccination will be completed before 2021. The Health Ministry has given a blueprint for how 108 people – with 216 crore doses – will be vaccinated by December. Rahulji… if you’re concerned about vaccination then pay attention to Congress ruled states… there is a mess. They are not taking the quota given to them for 18-44 year old beneficiaries from May 1,” Mr Javadekar said.
Javadekar harshly criticised Rahul Gandhi for using the word ‘nautanki’ during his press conference earlier in the day. He said that using such terms while the nation faces a crisis is akin to insulting the efforts of the government to contain the pandemic.
Rahul Gandhi during his press conference criticised the Centre and claimed that the current rate of vaccination will further lead to multiple waves of Covid-19 while also claiming that at the current pace India will be able to vaccinate all by May 2024.
The Wayanad parliamentarian’s press conference led to a war of words among both parties after he held Prime Minister Narendra Modi responsible for the damage caused due to the second wave of Covid-19 in the country. “Through his actions the Prime Minister paved way for Covid-19 to cause such damage. He is responsible for the second wave of Covid-19,” Rahul Gandhi said. The Congress leader also called the PM Modi an ‘event manager’.