Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 10
As India crossed the 100-million mark in vaccine dose administration, Opposition-ruled Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Delhi flagged jab shortage, saying existing stocks would last only for a few days.
- Also read: India fastest to reach 10 crore inoculations
Congress president Sonia Gandhi accused the Centre of mismanaging the jab supply by exporting large consignments, leading to domestic shortage. Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh said the state was left with five days of supply (5.7 lakh doses) if it inoculated up to 90,000 people a day or three days if the target of 2 lakh shots a day was achieved. Speaking at a virtual Covid review meet, Sonia held with the CMs of Congress-ruled states today, Capt Amarinder said the vaccine drive in Punjab had suffered due to people’s anger towards the Centre over farm laws.
Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel said the vaccine stock would last three days, while Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot said the stocks would exhaust in 48 hours. Maharashtra minister Balasaheb Thorat said the state (which accounts for 40 per cent of the daily cases) could inoculate 5 lakh people daily if the Centre gave enough doses. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said they had vaccine for a week. Denying any shortage, the Centre said it was in talks with SII and Bharat Biotech to augment the supply.
Punjab jab laxity due to farm laws
The vaccine drive in Punjab has suffered due to people’s anger towards the Centre over farm laws. Capt Amarinder Singh, Punjab CM
Halt export, focus on domestic needs
The Centre mismanaged the vaccine supply. We must focus on the domestic needs first. Sonia Gandhi, AICC Chief
Maha still has 15.63 lakh doses
Maharashtra received 1.10 crore doses. It still has 15.63 lakh doses left. Prakash Javadekar, BJP leader
India needs to grow faster
India, projected to grow at 12.5 per cent this year, needs to grow at a much faster pace to make up for the unprecedented contraction of 8 per cent last year. Senior IMF Official
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