Chiding Karnataka’s BJP govt, Congress sets aside Rs 100 crore for free vaccine drive | India News

KPCC President D K Shivakumar with CLP leader Siddaramaiah during the protest against the government as they demand vaccination and proper healthcare for Corona patients. ANI

BENGALURU: A day after chief minister B S Yediyurappa and his cabinet colleagues held a media briefing on the government initiatives to control the Covid-19 pandemic but admitted the short supply of vaccines, the Karnataka Congress unit chided the BJP government by setting aside Rs 100 crore for direct procurement of vaccines from the open market to help the people seeking it.
The vaccine, if and when it is available with the party, will be distributed free of cost.
On Friday, at a joint presser by KPCC president D K Shivakumar and opposition leader Siddaramaiah, the Congress announced that the party will be provide Rs 10 crore from its internal funds and the rest Rs 90 crore will be raised from the development fund of every MLA and MLC.
“Each of the legislators will take out Rs 1 crore from their local area development fund and contribute towards the vaccine procurement fund of the Congress party,” said Siddaramaiah.
While chiding the Yediyurappa government in the state and prime minister Narendra Modi regime at the centre for failing to control the rapid spread of the vaccine, the Congress party said the funds were being collected due to their failure.
“We urge that in the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat, the centre and state governments will allow us to procure the vaccines from the manufacturers directly and distribute it to people at free of cost,” said Shivakumar.
The Congress party warned the state government that the opposition will not sit quiet if there are allegations of misappropriation in the recently floated global tender for procuring vaccines as proposed by it.
“We ask the process to be completely transparent and ensure that the people’s money is not swindled during the tendering process,” said the party.
Meanwhile, Karnataka in-charge and AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted and said:”The 100 CR #Vaccination plan ! This is the Congress way ! Kudos to Karnataka Congress, Siddaramaiah, DKShivakumar & Congress MLA/MLC’s for offering ₹100 CR from ‘Development Fund’ for free vaccination to 18-44 years in Karnataka. Will BJP-Yediyurappa Govt now wake up from slumber?”