COVID-19: Vaccine shortage triggers political blame game in Kerala
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The shortage of COVID-19 vaccines has triggered a political blame game in the State. It has stoked public anger and precipitated the Centre and the State to wrangle over the pricing and sourcing of the drug.
For as soon as, the ruling LDF and the opposition UDF had been on the identical web page. Both mentioned that the onus was on the Centre to supply the vaccine freed from value to States to halt an aggressive second wave of infections.
On Thursday, Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala appeared to again Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s demand that the Centre ensured an sufficient provide of vaccine doses to retard the pandemic, forestall additional lack of life and save States from financial devastation.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr. Chennithala echoed Mr. Vijayan’s sentiment that the State might ailing afford to produce vaccines free to its residents. The Centre ought to underwrite the price.
Social media problem
Meanwhile, LDF supporters launched a social media marketing campaign with the hashtag “vaccine challenge.” It aimed toward elevating contributions to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) to buy vaccines. However, some considered this as a dig on the Centre’s alleged reluctance to produce the doses free to States.
Mr. Vijayan mentioned the marketing campaign had raised ₹22 lakhs on Thursday alone. He highlighted it as a manifestation of the State’s unity in the face of lengthy odds.
The CPI(M) mentioned that the Centre had upended India’s free and common vaccination regime by permitting personal gamers to hike the worth and dominate the availability of COVID-19 vaccines.
‘Constitutional violation’
Kerala Sasthra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP), an LDF assume tank, mentioned that the Centre had urged States to obtain vaccines on the market worth fastened by producers. It had violated the constitutional obligation to make sure free and common vaccination, it mentioned.
Moreover, the Centre had opened the door for the hoarding and black advertising and marketing of vaccine doses. It lauded the State’s resolution to obtain vaccines independently with out ready for the Centre’s generosity.
BJP State president K. Surendran accused the federal government of trying to scapegoat the Centre for its shortcomings. The Centre had delivered 62,42,833 doses to the State until April 21. More consignments had been on their approach, he mentioned.
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