Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticised Maharashtra Government for playing politics in vaccination programme with Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) just because it is ruled by Opposition party. Pravin Datke, MLC and President, BJP, Nagpur City Unit, and Avinash Thakre, Ruling Party Leader, NMC, at a press conference on Thursday pointed out the step-motherly treatment on part of Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) Government, as on one hand Shiv Sena-ruled Brihan Mumbai Corporation (BMC) has been given a go ahead to purchase jabs from open market, they have not yet responded to proposal of NMC for the same. The current slowdown in vaccination programme in city is solely due to narrow-minded politics on part of State Government and that to at time of pandemic and this is highly condemnable, the two said in unison. Datke said, BMC’s decision to float global tender for purchasing vaccines is being applauded but it was NMC that was the first to seek permission from State Government for contracting vaccines directly from the manufacturing company, Serum Institute of India (SII).

 

Mayor Dayashankar Tiwari had addressed a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on May 7 and informed that NMC is keen to utilise it internal funds earmarked for COVID-19 for getting the required jabs. Tiwari, in his communication, had stated that direct procurement of vaccines would help the civic body to speed up the ongoing pace of vaccination. Mayor had also referred to forthcoming third wave of novel corona virus that necessities faster inoculation and hence requested Chief Minister to consider NMC's proposal positively. And two days later, on May 9, State's Environment Minister Aditya Thackeray twitted about BMC's decision to float global tender for purchasing vaccines. The date line is quite important and indicates the narrow minded political game being played by State Government. Even as NMC is kept waiting, BMC was given go ahead on grounds to help speed-up the vaccination drive for people living in metropolitan capital city.

 

Datke said while BMC is getting all applause and they have no issues with it, but its strange that MVA Government has again shown its anti-Vidarbha mindset. Local people's representatives are duty bound to look after welfare of their citizens and sole intention of NMC was to ensure that at least those in 18-44 age group get at least one dose before third wave of novel corona virus sets in. At present due to short supply of jabs from State Government, NMC is not able to carry out its responsibility of vaccination all beneficiaries. It's painful to see even senior citizens and people with co-mobidities and in 45-years plus age group have to wait endlessly for getting their first or second doses. Now with shortage of vaccines even first dose is not being administered to 45-years plus age group, said Thakre.

 

The BJP leaders said it was sad to see some political leaders in city politicising the issue when the ruling party in NMC and its legislators agreed to donated funds from their constituency development fund to enable stocking-up of vaccines. So much so that even people in administration also tried to short circuit the proposal of NMC which Datke said was uncalled for. He pointed out that in BMC, Group Leaders of all parties are on one platform and gave go ahead for floating of tender for purchasing vaccines and asked those who had opposed NMC proposal to air their objections. Power is not permanent and it comes and goes but in time of health emergency everyone has to close their ranks, especially political leaders of that region, and administrative officers to should positively support the action. Such partisan approach between Mumbai and Nagpur was unfortunate and should have been avoided, Datke said further.