If the first month of 2020 had brought sad news about Covid-19, the beginning of 2021 has begun with enthusiasm and the hope that things would be normal soon. The economy that slid down due to the complete shutdown has started showing signs of recovery and the country is looking forward positively.
However, losing the intellectual debate as always, the Congress has once again been caught on the wrong foot. The first time was when it tried to undermine the credibility of the two indigenous Covid-19 vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, and then again when it challenged the Prime Minister and other leaders in the government to get the first jab.
What was the Opposition opposing? Is this their anger against the fact that the Prime Minister has been hailed the world over for his dealing with the pandemic, when they had expected that to become his nemesis? Their calculation that people would revolt due to the massive spread of the pandemic did not fructify. People of the country have been appreciative of Modi’s efforts to bring the country back on the rails. Are they then angry because the economy has also started looking up? They had calculated that the economy would not recover so easily and the disruption caused to many due to factors like the loss of employment would make people angry with the Prime Minister. Now, the economy is expected to pick up pace and grow about 10 percent in 2021-22.
Whatever they picked up against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they were forced to retract because their arguments were based on insinuations and falsehood. Whether it was asking for proof of the two surgical strikes against Pakistan or questioning the PM on the Rafale deal or on handling the Covid crisis, people have refused to trust the Opposition. The facts have nailed their lies.
This palpable anger built on these failures has blinded reason and egged them to ask questions on the credibility of the two vaccines which have come as a lifesaving elixir. While Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav has called it the ‘BJP vaccine’, senior leaders from the Congress have questioned the authenticity of the vaccines, forgetting the massive effort that scientists have made to produce them in record time. For them, opposing Modi and opposing the vaccine are the same.
It is true that Modi took extra pain in keeping himself briefed about the progress of the vaccine and encouraging scientists to expedite the process of making them. As a Prime Minister who is keen to bring life back to normal, he will surely be concerned. But the credit should not be taken away from the scientists who worked day and night to make this possible.
What should have been a moment of pride for every Indian, for bringing one of the cheapest vaccines in the world, got mired in controversy. The news that the vaccine would come early was known to everyone. At a meeting with leaders of political parties on 4 December, 2020, the Prime Minister had said that the Covid vaccine might be ready in a few weeks. He had informed them that India’s vaccination programme against Covid-19 would begin as soon as scientists give the go ahead.
In anticipation of the vaccines, the Union Government had also started preparing a vaccine protocol. “Priority in this (vaccination) will be given to the healthcare workers involved in treating Covid-19 patients, frontline workers and old people suffering from serious conditions,” Modi had said at the meeting. While the Opposition may have been preparing the ground to attack the vaccine, projecting the process as ‘vaccine nationalism’, the government had prepared a fool-proof vaccination protocol to avoid rush and disruption.
Matters that are not political are best left to scientists and experts. And no government would risk the health of its people by giving them a vaccine, unless it is considered completely safe. Instead of celebrating and being proud that India has established itself as a destination for vaccine manufacturers of the world, their criticism has undermined the values India is known for—scientific achievement and credibility.
Now, they have come up with a new complaint: why did the Prime Minister and other leaders in the government not take the first jab? When lifesaving amrit is found, who should get it first is always an issue. The Modi government said that it should go first to those involved in saving lives. Their priorities are clear. The Prime Minister even warned politicians against jumping the queues. In the second stage, it would go to people over 50 years of age with comorbidities. But the Congress is questioning the efficacy of the vaccine since top politicians have not taken it first. This is cheap politics and people see through it. The criticism comes in the context of a feudal mindset where vested interests and political workers are capable of subverting the system. The Prime Minister’s appeal has ensured that people follow a system. The message of the PM was clear: you will get it when your turn comes. The rules apply to all, including people at the top.
The nation is proud not to see politicians jumping the queue. A transparent system is in place. Imagine what frontline workers would have thought if they had not been prioritised. They are the ones who were the most exposed to the virus, with many of them even losing their lives while trying to save people. This shows why PM Modi is different from the rest and why the common people respect him.
The writer is convener of the Media Relations Department of the BJP and represents the party as a spokesperson on TV debates. He has authored the most authentic book on the Prime Minister, called ‘Narendra Modi: The Game Changer’. The views expressed are personal.
Why did the Prime Minister and other leaders in the government not take the first jab? When lifesaving ‘amrit’ is found, who should get it first is always an issue. The Modi government said that it should go first to those involved in saving lives. Their priorities are clear. Prime Minister Narendra Modi even warned politicians against jumping the queues.