COVID-19 Vaccination: ‘Classic case of the missing spine’, Rahul Gandhi slams Centre

Rahul Gandhi said that the “people’s lives are on the line’ whereas the Government of India ‘admits no timeline’ for completing the vaccination drive

The Congress leader and Member of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi on Saturday slammed the BJP-led Central government for its failure to provide a timeline for completion of vaccination against COVID-19 in the country.

Rahul Gandhi said that the “people’s lives are on the line’ whereas the Government of India ‘admits no timeline’ for completing the vaccination drive.

He also accused the government of not being committed to its duty, saying the failure to give a clear timeline was a ‘classic case of the missing spine’.

“People’s lives on the line, GOI admits no timeline, Classic case of the missing spine. Where are vaccines?” the Congress leader asked.

Rahul posted the comments while sharing a news report, which stated that the Union Health Ministry on Friday said the government expects to vaccinate the entire adult population of the country against COVID-19 by the end of December. However, there is no set deadline for the inoculation of the rest of the population as of now.

“In view of the dynamic and evolving nature of COVID-19 pandemic, no fixed timeline at present can be indicated for the completion of vaccination drive, however, it is expected that beneficiaries aged 18 years and above will be vaccinated by December 2021,” Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Bharti Pawar was quoted as saying in the Parliament.

Pertinently, Pawar’s statement comes two months after the present Union Human Resource and Development Minister Prakash Javadekar said that India’s anti-COVID-19 vaccination will be completed before the end of 2021.