The political wars are heating up in Punjab where elections are to be held next year. The beleaguered Congress-led state government, facing internal dissensions, has witnessed a sharp attack from the BJP for its COVID-19 management.
The saffron party on Tuesday demanded Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh’s resignation over the alleged impropriety in selling COVID-19 vaccine to private hospitals, and in awarding order to a private company at exorbitant prices to buy COVID kits.
BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatiya, in a press conference, alleged malpractices in buying ‘Fateh Kits’ by Punjab government. “The first tender in the first week of April had the price of this Fateh kit fixed at Rs 837, which was then increased to Rs 1,226, an increase of 46 per cent. In the third tender which came after 17 days, the price of this kit was increased to Rs 1,338,” he said.
The government tender of Fateh Kits was given to a company without any transparency, and at exorbitant prices, and without mandatory drug licence, Bhatia charged. He also demanded that Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi offer an explanation over this state government’s decision.
“The people of Punjab are asking for answers over this irregularity. The scam happened under the nose of Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, so he has no right to continue in the constitutional post. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh as well as State Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu will not be able to get an impartial investigation until he resigns from his post,” Bhatia said.
Interestingly, the BJP attack on Amarinder Singh came a day after he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for announcing that Centre would bear the cost of vaccination for all age groups. Singh said he had written two letters to Modi in this regard.
On Monday, even Aam Aadmi Party had also levelled same charges of buying the Fateh Kits at exorbitant prices against the Amarinder Singh government.
