Kolkata: On a day when the COVID-19 vaccination drive was launched throughout the country, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slammed the BJP-headed Central government for sending fewer vials of vaccines to the state.
Mamata also said that if needed, the ruling Trinamool Congress will acquire the vaccine directly from the manufacturers and provide it free of cost to the people of West Bengal.
“The Centre sent less vaccines than required… If needed, the TMC government will buy vaccine vials directly from manufacturers and distribute it for free,” the chief minister said.
Praising health workers and police personnel, Mamata said that the state government will do everything to safeguard the health of frontline workers and the entire 8 crore population in the state.
Taking a potshot at the chief minister, state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh said that the vaccines fell short as leaders of Trinamool Congress were seen taking the jab on the first day.
“The first phase of vaccination was for health workers and police, but TMC leaders also queued up for vaccination. This is the reason why the vials fell short. This shows the integrity of the ruling Trinamool Congress. Everyone will be vaccinated, but the vaccines which Mamata Banerjee will distribute can turn out to be fake,” Ghosh quipped.
BJP’s West Bengal vice-president Jai Prakash Majumdar said that the chief minister has failed to open vaccination booths in the state.
“The Central government had time and again asked the chief ministers to identify places where vaccination booths can be opened. But Mamata Banerjee failed to do so. Her claim that the Centre had sent lesser vials of vaccines is completely false as the BJP works towards uplift of everyone,” said Majumdar, adding that more vaccines will be sent soon.
A total 15,887 people got vaccinated on the first day in West Bengal.
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