A day after the BJP promised to give free COVID-19 vaccines to people in Bihar in its election manifesto, its estranged former NDA ally Shiv Sena on Friday asked it to clarify if those who will not vote for the party will be given the vaccine or not.
Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, while targeting the BJP’s statement to give free coronavirus vaccine to people in Bihar, said, “The party should tell whether those who will not vote for BJP will not be given the vaccine.”
The Shiv Sena spokesperson further said that earlier the BJP used to distribute in the name of caste and religion, now they will divide people in the name of the vaccine. “This kind of rhetoric that is being done about the COVID-19 vaccine is spoiling the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Raut said.
Opposition parties had on Thursday slammed the BJP for promising free COVID-19 vaccines in its Bihar poll manifesto and demanded action by the Election Commission, while alleging that the ruling party was using the pandemic for political gains.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the BJP, saying one has to refer to the state-wise election schedule to know when one will have access to the vaccine. The opposition attack forced the BJP to explain that health is a state subject and its manifesto is for Bihar, not for the entire country, where it has promised that the state will buy the vaccine for its people.
The RJD, the Congress, Shiv Sena, Samajwadi Party and the National Conference all raised questions on the BJP’s poll promise of free vaccine for Bihar, alleging that it is politicising the matter.