New Delhi: A day after the Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Rameshwar Teli said that the government's free vaccine initiative has led to the hike in prices of petroleum and diesel, Congress MP from Assam Ripun Bora castigated the statement and said that the minister is ignorant about his own government's planning.
Talking to ETV Bharat in New Delhi, Bora said that it is a very irresponsible statement made by a central minister.
"In fact, he has made a mockery of Prime Minister's plan for mass vaccinations. To bear the costs of free vaccination, the government has also levied extra taxes on petrol and diesel," said Bora.
The Congress Parliamentarian has also criticised the Central government on its previous announcement of allocating Rs 35,000 crore for Covid-19 vaccinations.
"I want to know for what purpose Rs 35,000 crore has been allocated in the last budget," Bora said.
Bora said that his party will raise the matter across the country on the union government's "double standard" approach.
"There are hoardings and advertisements across the country for free vaccination. However, the government has imposed new taxes on several products, especially petroleum products," said Bora.
Also read: Diesel hits Rs 100/litre mark in Kerala, Karnataka
Junior minister in the petroleum ministry, Teli had recently said in Guwahati that free Covid-19 vaccines have resulted in the hike of petrol and diesel prices in the country.
Ever since the vaccination process has been started in India, the union government has been supporting the States and UTs with free vaccination drives.
Till date, the government has supplied 96,75,07,985 free vaccines whereas 8,43,17,810 vaccines are still available with the concerned States and UTs.
It may be mentioned here that the government has been procuring 75 percent of vaccines from the vaccine manufacturers to supply to the States and UTs whereas the government supplies the remaining 25 percent to private hospitals.
