New Delhi:As India faces a vaccine shortage, the Congress party on Monday slammed the Central government for "ignoring" the health of its country and trying to gain "publicity" internationally.
Jaiveer Shergill, Congress spokesperson The party also demanded the Supreme Court of India to set up a task force for vaccine distribution across the country.
The remarks came after the Centre justified its vaccine policy in the Supreme Court stating that it "conforms to mandate of Article 14 and Article 21" of the Constitution of India and is completely driven by expert medical and scientific opinion.
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Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said, "The Central government's vaccine policy does not conform to the Constitution of India but to the BJP's publicity policy whereby public health is ignored, Indian citizens are treated less equal to foreigners and the right to health of young India is violated and jeopardized."
He further said, "The truth of the matter is that the government's policy of 'Go global and ignore local' has put many lives in danger. Why were 6.5 crore doses exported when the same doses could have vaccinated the entire population of Delhi and Mumbai?"
Shergill alleged that India is facing an acute shortage of vaccines because there is a "shortage of vision, planning and governance" by the BJP government. He demanded that the Supreme Court of India intervenes and forms a vaccination distribution task force. "The BJP can no longer be trusted," he said.
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"The people of India have realized that they cannot get dependent on their right to health guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. The BJP even today is busy making excuses rather than taking responsibility of the mammoth blunder they have created in distributing vaccines in the country. The BJP government should be held politically and legally accountable for this gross criminal negligence for which our Indians are paying with their lives," he said
In the affidavit submitted to the apex court, the Central government had stated, "On an immediate front, the availability, augmentation and enhancement of vaccines and completing vaccination of vulnerable groups is the topmost priority of the nation."
