New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday welcomed the Central government's move to fast-track emergency approvals for foreign vaccines that have been granted 'emergency use authorisation', saying that the government has "opened its eyes lately".
On Tuesday, the Centre accepted the recommendations of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19, which had suggested that the vaccines developed, manufactured, granted emergency approval for restricted use by several foreign countries and listed in the World Health Organisation emergency use listing may be granted emergency use authorisation in India as well.
Watch: Delhi Gate cemetery running out of space as COVID-19 deaths spike
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Congress General Secretary Tariq Anwar said, "Though lately, the government has opened its eyes. The current situation of COVID-19 was predicted long ago. Several countries have already been facing the second wave of COVID-19. But, our government and our prime minister don't care about it. The Congress leaders have repeatedly asked the government to take measures on a priority basis. We are glad the government has realized it now."
Last week, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had also raised similar demands in his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which he had stated that India was facing "vaccine starvation" and therefore it was necessary to fast-track approval for other vaccine candidates. To this, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had called Gandhi a "lobbyist" for pharmaceutical companies.
When asked about the matter, Anwar said, "The BJP has no strategy of its own. They make fun of every matter. They realise the depth of any issue when the situation gets worse. Rahul Gandhi tried several times to make the government understand the gravity of the issue. But this government never took it seriously as a result of which the country has to now face consequences."
Also read: Modi-style lockdown the worst thing to do, first prepare people: Congress
The Congress leader also reiterated the party's demand to make vaccines available for all people irrespective of their age. He said, "Age bar should definitely be removed from this vaccination drive.
On late Monday evening, Congress president Sonia Gandhi had also written to the prime minister seeking a speedy approval of new vaccines and a decision on the eligibility of people based on exposure instead of age. She had also demanded that life-saving drugs should be kept outside the ambit of GST.
