iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
With the rampant rise of positive cases across India, India’s former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had written a letter of concern to the center on managing its Covid crisis.
While the intention may have been genuine and apprehensive given the situation of the country, the letter drew a sharp response from Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.
In fact, he went on to attack Congress and blamed the opposition party for fueling the second wave of the virus by raising doubts about vaccines.
On Sunday, Singh wrote to PM Modi saying that the country is “facing an unprecedented emergency” and asked the Centre to make public details of the orders placed by the Government for Covid vaccine doses and indicate the strategy for them to be distributed in a transparent manner.
In reply to this letter, Vardhan came on Twitter saying, “It is saddening, Dr Singh, that while you very well understand the importance of vaccination as an important method of fighting the COVID-19 battle, people in responsible positions in your party as well as in the state governments formed by your party do not seem to share your view,” Harsh Vardhan said in his reply to Dr Singh’s letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Tweeting his reply, he said, “History shall be kinder to you Dr Manmohan Singh ji if your offer of ‘constructive cooperation and valuable advice was followed by your (Congress) leaders as well in such extraordinary times!”
He said it was “shocking” those senior members of the Congress were “yet to utter a single word of gratitude” towards the scientist community and vaccine manufacturers for innovating under trying circumstances and empowering the world with vaccines.
It is clear with this reply that the members of the ruling party do not take criticism with a pinch of salt.
Vardhan went on to say, the Congress has taken “extraordinary interest in spreading falsehood regarding the efficacy of these vaccines. Therefore, Vardhan alleged, Congress “fueled vaccine hesitancy” and “played with the lives of countrymen.”
Vardhan also said “those who drafted” the former PM’s letter had “misled him” on facts in public domain. “For example, take the point that you have mentioned about allowing import of vaccines that have already been approved by credible foreign authorities. You made this suggestion on April 18, but a decision on this had already been taken a week ahead of your suggestion.”
Similarly, a decision had already been taken on providing funds and other concessions to vaccine-makers, he said.
“Anyway, despite such factual inaccuracies, we understand your deep concern for the country and also assure you that we share the same…As a senior leader, we expect that you shall offer the same advice and wisdom to your own party leaders as well.”
Dr Singh on Sunday wrote to PM Modi suggesting five measures to battle the Covid crisis including ramping up vaccination and boosting the supply of medicines.
