BJP pledges free Covid vaccine, triggers row

In manifesto for Bihar election, party also promises 1.9 million jobs in five years

PATNA/NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday kicked up a storm ahead of the Bihar state assembly elections, promising in its manifesto to provide a vaccine for the coronavirus disease – when it is available – free of cost to the people of the state if re-elected and triggering a flurry of criticism from opposition leaders over the announcement.

“The NDA government in Bihar has set an example before the country in the fight against corona. It’s our resolve that once the vaccine against the coronavirus has been cleared by the ICMR, we will make it available to the people of Bihar free of cost,” said the manifesto released by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The vaccine announcement was figured prominently in the BJP’s document.

At the release, Sitharaman said India has reached a point where it is on the verge of producing three vaccines after different stages of trial. “When we reach the stage where scientists give clearance for large-scale production of the vaccine, we will make it available to the people of Bihar free of cost,” she reiterated.

The BJP, which is fighting the election with the Nitish Kumarled Janata Dal (United), also sought to reach out to the youth by promising that it will create 1.9 million jobs in the state in the next five years.

The move is seen as a counter to the move by RJD president Tejashwi Yadav – who is also the opposition Grand Alliance’s CM candidate – promising 1 million jobs in their joint manifesto with the Congress and Left parties.

The move to announce free vaccine drew sharp responses, with opposition leaders across states alleging that the central government – led by the BJP – had implied through this announcement that the party favoured Bihar and that other states will have to pay for a vaccine.

“GOI [Government of India] just announced India’s Covid access strategy... Kindly refer to the state-wise election schedule to know when will you get it, along with a hoard of false promises,” said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a Twitter post.

Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel also accused the BJP of politicising public health. “NDA manifesto says free vaccine for Biharis. This is a poll promise BJP and JDU have made. Note: A Manifesto is a list of promises to be delivered If the govt comes to power then they are politicising health of citizens with #VaccineElectionism,” Baghel, a Congress leader, tweeted.

Reacting to criticism over the vaccine announcement, BJP’s national general secretary and in-charge of Bihar, Bhupendra Yadav, said health is an important aspect of public policy and should be addressed in election manifestoes as well.“If parties are allowed to talk about alleviating hunger and poverty, improving the lot of the farmers and offering jobs, why should they not talk about public health? It is an important aspect of public policy and should be addressed by all political parties in a reasonable manner,” the BJP leader said.

On Thursday, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav hit out at the BJP and said it didn’t matter that the party was deploying star campaigners in the state. “It’s not important for us who comes from which state with what issues. For Bihar elections, only issues like unemployment, poverty, migration related to the state are relevant,” said Yadav.

Speaking on BJP’s manifesto,

he added, “BJP doesn’t have a face for Bihar polls. Finance minister had to come to release the vision document. Since she’s here, Sitharaman Ji should first tell why she never gave a special package and special state status to Bihar.”

The party made several promises in its 11-point Sankalp Patra that includes the aim to make 10 million women in Bihar self-dependent in the next five years by creating self-help groups (SHGs), recruiting 300,000 teachers and transforming Bihar into an IT hub that will create 500,000 jobs. It also sought to provide another 100,000 employment opportunities in the health care sector, and a million jobs by interlinking of 1,000 new Farmers Produce Organisations (FPO) and developing a supply chain for produce such as maize, fruits, vegetables, makhana, medicinal plants, etc.

“In India, the IT industry is worth $177 billion. Bihar is to be developed as a next generation

IT hub and this will create five lakh new jobs in the next five years,” it said.

Bihar will vote in three phases between October 28 and November 7. The results will be announced on November 10.

HEALTH IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF PUBLIC POLICY AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN ELECTION MANIFESTOES