PM Narendra Modi’s 100-crore vaccination brag, Covaxin silence double jumla: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

SILIGURI: Dubbing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 100-crore vaccination speech and silence over WHO’s approval for Covaxin as “double jumla”, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said “self-praise and utensil-banging” should be saved for after India’s eligible population was fully vaccinated, and after the Centre took up the Covaxin issue with WHO.
Speaking at a Bijoya gathering in Siliguri, Banerjee minced no words about BJP’s “silence” on spiralling fuel prices. “Should households go back to using cowdung cakes and coal?” she asked.
Banerjee said it was misleading to harp on the 100-crore figure, as not all of it was full vaccinations. “Around 30 crore people of the 130 crore people have been completely vaccinated; 71 crore have received only their first dose,” she said, adding, “Until fully vaccinated, no one is safe. Unless given both doses, we cannot say people are fully vaccinated. It is too early to clang utensils and clap.”
Referring to issue of a WHO approval to Covaxin for international travel, she said: “The Prime Minister has taken Covaxin. He had been to the US, while students and industrialists (who have taken Covaxin) could not. They can’t go for studies or work. Even elderly people who need to go to meet their children can’t. I have referred to this in my letter to the PM and even spoke about this in the CMs’ meeting. This issue needs to be resolved quickly.... The Centre needs to get it approved by WHO.”
The CM said Bengal was “number one” in vaccinating citizens. “In Bengal, we need 14 crore doses. We have received around seven crore vaccines; we have vaccinated seven crore people. Our health workers have ensured not a single dose was wasted. Over five crore received their first dose, the rest both doses. In Kolkata and Siliguri, 40% people have been completely vaccinated.”
We need to be very careful over the next two months. Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have received more vaccines. Bengal, being more populated than other states, is like the neglected third child, and received less vaccine.”
Banerjee said most people were “sad during the festive season” as the fuel price-hike was “unending”. “But not a word is being said on that. I know it is stinging every household. What do the Centre really want? No one is bothered. Ujjwala (Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, for offering LPG connections to impoverished families) has vanished. Do they want us to start using cowdung cakes and coal?”
She also spoke about Tripura. “Bengal hasn’t become a Tripura. They beat people at will in Tripura, then deny them treatment and talk of human rights in Bengal. Last night, we had to bring an assaulted party leader to SSKM Hospital. They don’t allow people for meetings and rallies. They don’t let people go to UP. Charity, for them, should begin at home. They have even assaulted Santosh Mohan Dev’s daughter (MP Sushmita Dev),” she said.
The CM also spoke about increased territorial jurisdiction for the BSF. “We are on very good terms with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. There is no problem. Why incite a problem? Earlier, BSF could act within 15 kilometres; now they can do so within 50 kilometres. I have nothing against central agencies, but this is an attempt to slyly step into state territory. They want more. Their demands are never-ending,” she said, adding, “Would people want this in Jalpaiguri, Siliguri and Alipurduar?”
Without directly referring to the BJP’s demand for UT status for north Bengal, Banerjee said: “We always need to stay together. A divided family doesn’t even respect their own. A stronger family keeps us secure. In time of crisis, it is only our own who rush to help.”