Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
The Congress on Wednesday slammed the Centre over the differential pricing for COVID vaccines, saying it was discriminatory and will benefit solely a “few big industrialists” whereas widespread folks will endure.
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to alleged injustice on the a part of the central authorities and in contrast the brand new vaccine policy to demonetisation.
“Disaster of the country, opportunity for friends of Modi. Injustice of the central government,” he mentioned in a tweet utilizing the hashtag “#VaccineDiscrimination” and shared the assertion of Serum Institute saying a value of Rs 400 per vaccine dose to states and Rs 600 to non-public hospitals,” he mentioned.
“The central government’s vaccine strategy is no less than the demonetisation. The common people will stand in queues, will suffer loss of wealth, health and life and in the end only a few big industrialists will benefit,” Gandhi mentioned in one other tweet.
Earlier within the day, Serum Institute of India introduced a value of Rs 400 per dose for its COVID-19 vaccine ‘Covishield’ for state governments and Rs 600 per dose for personal hospitals.
The Centre had on Monday made all adults above 18 years of age eligible for getting vaccination from May 1.
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Addressing a press convention, Congress’s senior spokesperson Ajay Maken mentioned it’s unlucky that the Centre is getting the vaccine at Rs 150, however it isn’t being made out there on the identical value to states.
“This is very unfortunate and we have asked for one nation, one price for vaccine. There should be same price for vaccines to central and state governments,” he mentioned noting that state governments can be put underneath enormous monetary burden because of this differential pricing.
“This is something that is going to put our youth and poor in a disadvantageous position. This is discriminatory. The Centre should ensure that vaccine manufacturers are adequately compensated,” Maken mentioned.
He feared there can be chaos within the nation from May 1, within the wake of non planning on the a part of the Centre for offering vaccines to the youth and poor.
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Citing examples, he mentioned if Rajasthan has to vaccinate half its inhabitants of 4 crore folks, it will need to shell out Rs 3,200 crore. “How will states bring the finances,” he requested.
Senior Congress chief Jairam Ramesh criticised the federal government saying the Centre getting the vaccine at Rs 150 per dose and states at Rs 400 is not any cooperative federalism.
He demanded the Centre and state governments pay the identical value for the COVID-19 vaccine.
He mentioned overcharging state governments for the anti-coronavirus photographs will bleed dry their already pressured funds.
“We demand one nation, one price for Centre and state governments,” he mentioned.
Another Congress chief P Chidambaram mentioned that as anticipated, the value of Covishield vaccine has been mounted at Rs 400 for presidency hospitals and Rs 600 for personal hospitals.
“Who will pay the Rs 400 for one dose in authorities hospitals? The state authorities or the beneficiary?
“How many persons between 18 and 44 years can afford to pay Rs 400 per dose? Will the beneficiary be burdened with the cost,” he requested.
Chidambaram additionally requested what number of states can be keen to pay the value of the vaccine and subsidise the folks.
