The Congress has alleged that the BJP “cheated” the people of Gujarat during the height of Covid-19 pandemic in the name of “free vaccination”. Addressing a press conference on Friday, Rajya Sabha MP and the All India Congress Committee spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil said that fake names of beneficiaries, bogus addresses, and fake mobile phone numbers were used by the BJP government in Gujarat in the name of free vaccination.
Releasing a nine-page document as “proof”, Gohil said, “The BJP has cheated Gujarat in the name of free vaccination. While the party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi talk about providing free vaccines to citizens. But the data from the primary health centres show the mobile phone numbers of the same serial number against all the names. The number mentioned is 6000003625, and such irregularity has come to light across several primary health care centres.”
Gohil, who was the leader of opposition in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly from 2007 to 2012, said there was tremendous pressure on the healthcare workers to vaccinate as many people as possible on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday (September 17) during the Covid crisis, which resulted in many of these workers resorting to such tactics. “In many cases, vaccines were not administered but money has been paid by the government to pharma companies. The People trusted the BJP and the party resorted to corruption,” he said.
Gohil demanded a probe into the Gujarat “vaccination scam” by a high court or a Supreme Court judge. “The data of those vaccinated should be made available in the public domain. The truth will come out,” he said.
NARMADA IS A CONGRESS PROJECT
Regarding Modi’s recent statement that Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo yatra consisted of people “opposed to the Narmada dam project”, Gohil said the project was Gujarat’s lifeline, and the Congress was the one that had undertaken it. “The Congress has never done politics in the name of the Narmada dam project.” Gohil said, “The fact is, I was the minister handling the Narmada division and the Congress government completed the challenging task of constructing an 18-mt deep foundation for the project.”
He said the Congress got workers from Bombay High to install the sewage gate and 90% work was completed during the Congress rule in the state. “The BJP is taking credit for the project that the Congress got done,” he said.
Regarding activist Medha Patkar’s presence in the Bharat Jodo yatra, Gohil said, “Why is it even an issue? Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo yatra doesn’t recognise politics, caste, or creed. Its only aim is the nation’s interest above the party’s interest. In fact, I invite PM Modi and Amit Shah to join the yatra.”
Taking a jibe at Modi and Shah, Gohil added, “If you can’t cover the distance Rahul Gandhi covers, at least try walking 5 km.” He said he was confident about the Congress’ chances in the Gujarat elections. “The DNA of Gujarat is that of development. Gujaratis have always been enterprising people,” Gohil said.
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