'Tum mujhe vote do, hum tumhe vaccine denge': Sanjay Raut takes a dig at BJP�s poll promise for Bihar

Patna, 23-Oct-2020

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Friday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party for promising free COVID-19 vaccine in its Bihar poll manifesto. While talking to reporters, the senior Shiv Sena leader asked if the vaccine would not be available in the states where there is no BJP government. Raut further said that in his speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that a roadmap is being made to bring coronavirus vaccine, when available, to each Indian. �Now, a new system is being made that wherever there is a BJP-ruled government, where the votes are being cast in favour of the BJP, they will get the vaccine. � �When we were in school, there used to be a saying or a mantra - 'tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe azadi dunga' and now it's - 'tum mujhe vote do, hum tumhe vaccine denge'. Only those who vote for BJP will get the vaccine, it shows the party�s discriminatory nature,� said Raut. Sanjay Raut also referred to a similar statement made in Madhya Pradesh by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who had yesterday said that once the coronavirus vaccine gets ready, it would be administered to all the people in the state for free. �Are preparations on for dividing the state?� asked Raut, adding: �Earlier, we used to discriminate on the basis of caste, now it will be on the basis of a vaccine.� Besides Shiv Sena, other opposition parties such as Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party and the National Conference have also slammed the BJP for promising free COVID-19 vaccines in its Bihar poll manifesto. Taking a dig at the BJP, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said one has to refer to the state-wise election schedule to know when one will have access to the vaccine. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor tweeted a video of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, saying, "You give me vote, I will give you vaccine...What appalling cynicism! Will the EC rap her and her shameless Government on the knuckles?" Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Health Minister TS Singh Deo said every citizen has a right to get free COVID vaccine. "The EC must take suo moto cognisance as the Modi government can't be selective about free access to COVID vaccine depending on electoral results," he added. The RJD, meanwhile, said the vaccine belongs to the country and not the BJP. "The corona vaccine belongs to the country, not the BJP! The political use of the vaccine shows that they have no alternative but to sell the fear of disease and death. Biharis are self-respecting, and will not sell their children's future for a small amount," tweeted the RJD.