"Dim, twisted-minded people can do this," BJP slams Congress' criticism of jab policy

Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Saturday hit out at the grand old party, saying only the silly would raise questions on the largest vaccination drive in the world. Gandhi, on Friday, had taken a dig at the central government on the purported non-availability of vaccines in the country.

New Delhi: A day after Rahul Gandhi questioned the union government over the lack of vaccine doses, Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Saturday hit out at the grand old party, saying only the silly would raise questions on the largest vaccination drive in the world. Gandhi, on Friday, had taken a dig at the central government on the purported non-availability of vaccines in the country.

"July has come but vaccines have not," Gandhi had tweeted. The ruling party sharply reacted to the criticism and asked if "spreading confusion is the Opposition party's undeclared policy."

Speaking exclusively to ETV Bharat, Naqvi said vaccines are the solution for Covid-19 and not for sick-minded people of the Congress party. He suggested that Congress leaders visit vaccination centres before they accuse the government. "I don't know whether Congress leaders are taking vaccines or not, but they will definitely raise baseless questions. So, I believe that only dim and twisted-minded people can do this. Instead of finding solutions at this time of crisis, the Congress leaders are busy in acts of political disruption," he said.

He added that while on one side Congress wants proper vaccination in the states that it ruling and on the other, a large number of doses are being wasted in states like Rajasthan and Punjab. On being asked about the Opposition's claim of vaccine shortage and discrimination against Congress-ruled states, the Union Minister asked the grand old party's leaders to go to the vaccine centre and get vaccinated instead of hurling baseless accusations at the central government.

Speaking over the post-poll violence in West Bengal, Naqvi agreed on the Kolkata High Court order to file a case against culprits and said anarchy and hooliganism are at their peak in the state. "Anarchy is at its peak in the West Bengal and anti-social elements have the backing of the state government. Today, the Trinamool Congress has become a symbol of anarchy and hooliganism. The constitutional machinery has failed in the state," he alleged, adding that the High Court's order should be followed strictly in the state.