Akhilesh Yadav welcomes 'government vaccine’, will take jab

LUCKNOW: A day after his father Mulayam Singh Yadav took the first dose of vaccine, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday relented on his opposition to the jab, claiming that he was opposed to the ‘BJP vaccine’ and welcomed the ‘government of India’s vaccine’. Earlier, Akhilesh had said that he will not get vaccinated since he did not trust the ‘BJP vaccine’.
Though BJP welcomed Akhilesh’s decision to get vaccinated, the party said SP chief would be held responsible for insulting the scientists and doctors by questioning the efficacy of the vaccine, until he apologised for it.
On Tuesday morning, SP chief announced on Twitter that he will take the jab and also appealed to those who have not got vaccinated, to get the jab.
"After public outcry, the government has finally decided that it will not politicise the vaccination process but the Centre will get people vaccinated instead. I was against the ‘BJP vaccine’ but welcome the ‘government of India’ vaccine and I will also get inoculated. Those who were unable to get the jab due to shortage of the vaccine till now, I appeal to them to get vaccinated," Akhilesh tweeted.

Minutes after Akhilesh’s announcement, deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya welcomed the former CM’s decision but minced no words in holding him responsible for insulting the Indian scientists who developed the vaccine and unsavoury events wherein doctors and paramedics involved in the vaccination drive were ill treated by those opposed to the vaccine.
"He should get vaccinated, we welcome that. But till he apologises, he is guilty of insulting scientists who developed the vaccine and health workers associated with the vaccination," Maurya tweeted.
The SP chief had courted controversy when, responding to a media query at a press conference on January 2, he had said that he will not take the 'BJP vaccine' as he did not trust the BJP government and announced that when SP will come to power, it will ensure free vaccines for everyone.
However, on April 14, Akhilesh tested Covid positive after he returned from Uttarakhand where Kumhb Mela was underway and he had met various religious leaders, including Akhara Parishad chairman Mahant Narendra Giri, who also later tested Covid positive. Akhilesh remained in home isolation till he tested negative.