Alleging that the Narendra Modi authorities is just not following the spirit of federalism, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday questioned why the Centre saved to itself the precise of distribution of 25 per cent Covid-19 vaccines to non-public hospitals and to not the states.
The prime minister had on Monday introduced that the Centre has determined to purchase 75 per cent of jabs from vaccine makers without cost provide to states, whereas personal sector hospitals will proceed to obtain the remaining 25 per cent.
Banerjee stated that she opposed the imposition of Items and Companies Tax (GST) on medicines, tools and vaccines required for the therapy of Covid-19.
Addressing a press meet on the state secretariat ‘Nabanna’ after assembly leaders of agitating peasants, she stated that from “Covid to farmers”, the BJP-led central authorities has pushed the nation into severe disaster.
“The Centre has stated that it’ll straight present 25 per cent of vaccines to non-public hospitals. Why by the Centre? The state implements the coverage of the Centre in a federal set-up,” she stated.
Taking a dig on the prime minister, she stated, “He solely is aware of learn how to converse towards states. He solely is aware of about divide and rule. Why is there no phrase by the PM about withdrawing 5 per cent GST on Covid vaccines?”
Banerjee stated that the prime minister didn’t take into consideration spending Rs 34,000 crore from PM Cares Fund to completely vaccinate the folks of the nation in all nowadays.
Had the Centre taken up the free vaccination drive on this interval, “we might not must lose so many voters within the age group of 18-45 years”, she claimed.
“What occurred to the promise by Modi earlier than the Bihar elections about free vaccination to everybody? So many months elapsed afterwards,” she stated. The Bihar Meeting election was held in three phases in October-November final 12 months.
“The PM mustn’t take credit score for the free vaccine coverage of the Centre now and may clarify what occurred in all nowadays,” Banerjee stated.
The CM stated that two crore folks had been inoculated in West Bengal and the state authorities spent Rs 200 crore to obtain vaccines.