'Hoard on Sunday, vaccinate on Monday, limp on Tuesday': Chidambaram takes jibe at Centre over vaccination

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram took a jibe at the central government on Tuesday, raising questions on the blueprint of the large-scale vaccination program as vaccination numbers dropped significantly after touching a high of over 88 lakh.  

Taking to Twitter, he said, "Hoard on Sunday, vaccinate on Monday, and go back to limping on Tuesday. That is the secret behind the world "record" of vaccinations on a "single day." This remark comes at a time when India's vaccination figures significantly dropped from a record of 88.09 lakh doses in a single day on Monday to 54.22 lakh doses the following day.

As questions of vaccine supply and allegations against the Centre for hoarding vaccine doses for several days in order to achieve the single-day record were put forward, P. Chidambaram even proceeded to revamp the BJP's 2019 election slogan, 'Modi Hai, Mumkin Hai' to 'Modi Hai, Miracle Hai.' Moreover, Congress leaders have continued to criticise the BJP government, accusing them of carrying out a pre-planned image booster to achieve the record spike.

The government, however, has refuted these claims, arguing that they have the capacity to store and administer the required number of vaccines to meet its target of fully vaccinating all adults by the end of the year. BJP leader Amit Malviya hit back at Chidambaram's comments, claiming that it is the Congress-ruled states that are 'limping, and dragging India down.' Of the top ten states that administered the highest number of doses, seven happen to be BJP states.

Also read: 3 out of 5 people receiving free COVID-19 vaccine from rural areas, says VP

Also read: 'Why will there be third wave if we follow protocols, get vaccinated,' asks Dr VK Paul