The Centre has taken two key decisions on the Covid crisis in the country in the last two days. And now the Congress has hit back saying that the party's suggestions were earlier ignored.
The Centre's nod to fast-track emergency approvals for foreign-produced Covid vaccines and cancellation of CBSE class 10 exams came after Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi raised the issues repeatedly.
Former Congress Party President Rahul Gandhi has hit back at Modi government ministers with a tweet for mocking him over his demand to fast-track vaccines awaiting approval.
“First they ignore you
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 14, 2021
then they laugh at you
then they fight you,
then you win.”#vaccine pic.twitter.com/FvfmTjJ7bl
The Wayanad MP had come under intense criticism from Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad for making the demand. In a series of tweets, the union minister had accused Rahul Gandhi of indulging in lobbying for pharma companies.
After failing as a part-time politician, has Rahul Gandhi switched to full time lobbying? First he lobbied for fighter plane companies by trying to derail India’s acquisition programme. Now he is lobbying for pharma companies by asking for arbitrary approvals for foreign vaccines
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) April 9, 2021
But bowing to intense pressure from states reporting a shortage of vaccines, the Centre on Tuesday gave a go-ahead to fast-track the process of emergency approvals of Covid-19 vaccines that have been granted emergency use authorisation (EUA) in foreign countries.
Also, Wednesday's decision of the Education Ministry to cancel class 10 board exams and suspend those for class 12 invited criticism from Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. She tweeted demanding clarity for class 12 exams.
Glad the government has finally cancelled the 10th standard exams however a final decision MUST be taken for the 12th grade too. Keeping students under undue pressure until June makes no sense.
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) April 14, 2021
It’s unfair. I urge the government to decide now.#cancelboardexam2021
The Congress Party is claiming a moral victory. The party claimed that the decision within the past 24 hours has come after a slew of letters from Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi, Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi and party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi.
The leaders followed up with a barrage of tweets on vaccine approval and board exams. The Party had launched a campaign on social media platforms over the issues.
On April 11, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wrote a letter to Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank over board exams.
CBSE 2021
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) April 11, 2021
My letter to the Minister of Education @DrRPNishank asking him to reconsider allowing the CBSE to conduct board exams under the prevailing COVID wave. pic.twitter.com/Ai4Zl796il
She warned the minister about the health and safety fall out of conducting CBSE board exams at a time when country is a witnessing severe second wave of Covid.
She had also urged the ministry to cancel the exams under the present circumstances.
Sensing the public mood Rahul Gandhi too had pitched in with his tweets and demanded that the Centre must reconsider holding board exams.
In the light of the devastating Corona second wave, conducting #CBSE exams must be reconsidered. All stakeholders must be consulted before making sweeping decisions.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 11, 2021
On how many counts does GOI intend to play with the future of India’s youth?
Quoting media reports that the second wave is more dangerous for the younger generation, both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi had been posting messages on social media platforms -- mounting pressure on the Centre.
On the vaccine shortage issue too, the Congress had gone on the offensive against the Modi Government. The party charged the Centre for delaying the emergency use of vaccines approved in other countries.
On April 10, Party President Sonia Gandhi chaired a meeting of the Chief Ministers in Congress-ruled states over the Covid crisis. In her message to the Prime Minister, the Congress President urged that all vaccine candidates awaiting clearances should be given go-ahead.
Earlier, On April 8, Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi too wrote a letter to the Prime Minister drawing his attention towards the shortage of vaccines across the country.
In his three-page letter, he made seven demands including fast-track approval to other vaccine candidates and suspending the export of vaccines.
Talking to media persons on Tuesday, the party’s chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, ”We don’t want any credit for decisions taken by the Centre in the interest of the people, but we would like to tell the Government that its ministers should desist from making irresponsible comments against our leaders for speaking on behalf of people of India and their voice cannot be silenced."