Rahul Gandhi tests Covid positive, PM wishes quick recovery
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Tuesday that he has tested positive for Covid-19 and is suffering from mild symptoms of the infectious disease.
“After experiencing mild symptoms, I’ve just tested positive for COVID,” he tweeted, adding, “All those who’ve been in contact with me recently, please follow all safety protocols and stay safe.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted after Gandhi’s announcement: “I pray for the good health and quick recovery of Lok Sabha MP Shri @RahulGandhi Ji.”
Earlier in the day, Gandhi attacked the Centre again, this time calling its vaccine strategy one of “discrimination, not distribution”. The Congress leader talked about the modalities of the government’s decision to
expand the vaccination drive to all adults, saying that the vaccines won’t be free for those between 18 and 45 years of age, and there is no vaccine guarantee for weaker sections.
He tweeted: “No free vaccine for 18-45 years old. Middlemen brought in without price control. No vaccine guarantee for weaker section. GOI’s discrimination-not distribution- Strategy!”
Gandhi’s attack came a day after the Centre announced the “liberalised and accelerated phase 3 strategy” of Covid-19 vaccination that will come into force on May 1 and will allow the entire adult population access to vaccines.
India launched the first phase of the vaccination drive In January, covering health care and frontline workers. It was then opened to people above 60 and people above 45 with comorbidities, and in the next phase to all people above the age of 45.
Meanwhile, Union minister Jitendra Singh said on Tuesday that he has tested positive for Covid-19 and asked those who came in his contact in recent few days to get themselves screened. Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma also tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday.