Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said he would not take the vaccination shot for COVID-19 as of now because he did not trust the “BJP’s (Bharatiya Janata Party) vaccine”. However, he later issued a clarification saying he had faith in the scientists but not in the medical system under the BJP government.
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“We will not get the BJP’s political vaccine. The SP government will provide free vaccine,” said Mr. Yadav.
“Mein toh nahi lagwaunga abhi vaccine (I will not get a vaccination shot now),” Mr. Yadav had said here at a press conference. “Aur woh bhi BJP lagaegi, uska bharosa karunga mein? Arey jao bhai (and that too the BJP will provide us the shots, will I trust them?)”
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister had also said: “Hum BJP ka vaccine nahi lagwa sakte (I cannot take the BJP’s vaccine).”
Mr. Yadav took a dig at the BJP government for imposing restrictions on Opposition parties citing COVID-19 norms. “The government says there is COVID-19 only when Opposition parties organise events,” the SP chief said.
“This government, which was getting rid of COVID-19 through tali and thali (claps and banging plates) and flying helicopters over hospitals, why does it need to make such a big cold chain?” he also asked, referring to the government’s plans for immunisation against the virus.
Mr. Yadav had said that if his party came to power in Uttar Pradesh, he would provide free vaccine to everyone.
