Farmers Movement Archive

Get vaccine & give them free to all: Opposition

NEW DELHI: A joint opposition on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to centrally procure vaccines from all global and domestic sources and immediately launch a universal and free mass vaccination drive across the country. The bloc of 12 opposition parties and leaders also urged Modi to repeal the controversial farm laws to save the “annadatas” and free them to grow food for the country — a reference to the ongoing protests which have exposed farmers to infections. They also demanded that the PM stop the Central Vista project and divert its budget to procuring vaccines and oxygen, give all jobless Rs 6,000 per month and provide free foodgrain to the needy. The letter was signed by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda, NCP president Sharad Pawar, chief ministers Uddhav Thackeray, Mamata Banerjee, M K Stalin and Hemant Soren, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav, RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury and CPI leader D Raja. The letter also urged the PM to “invoke compulsory licensing to expand domestic vaccine production, spend budgetary allocation of Rs 35,000 crore for vaccines, release all money held in the unaccounted private trust fund PM Cares to buy more vaccines, oxygen and medical equipment required”. In a caustic jibe, the grouping told Modi, “Though it has not been the practice of your office or government, we would appreciate a response to our suggestions in the interests of India and our people.” It said the opposition had repeatedly suggested to the government various measures to deal with the pandemic but they were rejected or ignored, “compounding the situation to reach such an apocalyptic human tragedy”. Tagging the letter, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweeted, “A joint appeal from the opposition to your humanity and democratic spirit (whatever is left of it). United, India can defeat Covid-19. Only if you listen to ‘Kaam ki Baat’, instead of imposing ‘Mann ki Baat’. Also, please ask your ministers to work, not troll."

The Times of India

2021-05-13

India