Kamal Nath asks MP government to come clean on ‘vaccination campaign fraud’

Questions are being raised about the record COVID-19 vaccination figures in Madhya Pradesh during the nationwide mega campaign held on June 21. Former MP chief minister Kamal Nath has urged the state government to come clean on the issue.

In response, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan asked Kamal Nath not to spread lies and added that nothing could be said to those who celebrate deaths. State Home Minister Narottam Mishra, joined in, saying criticism was in the habit of Congress and the party was at it again.

Questions had erupted regarding the record vaccination figures of Madhya Pradesh as it was pointed out that the state had administered unusually low doses of vaccines three days before and a day after the mega vaccination campaign day of June 21.

On June 21, Madhya Pradesh claimed a record, administering 17,44,657 doses of COVID-19 vaccines in a single day. However, a day later several activists and political leaders pointed out, citing the data on CoWIN dashboard that just a day earlier, on June 20, MP administered just 692 doses of vaccines, while a day after the mega campaign, on June 22, just 4,842 doses were administered.

Similarly, the vaccination figures were very low compared to other days of the month on June 19 (22,006) and June 18 (14,862).

There were allegations that the state had 'hoarded' vaccines before the mega campaign day to achieve the record figure.

However, on Wednesday the vaccination pace again picked up in the state with over 10.50 lakh doses administered till 6.00pm, according to the CoWIN dashboard, seemingly highest among all states.

Earlier in the day, Kamal Nath tweeted to say “A big fraud on vaccination campaign in Madhya Pradesh is coming to the fore. Over 17 lakh doses are administered in a single day and before and after this only few hundred doses are administered. Government should come clear on this situation as it is the matter of life for crores of people.”

Responding to the comment of Nath, CM Chouhan said the Congress leaders were not able to digest the success of any campaign. “What can be said to those who celebrate deaths? Everyone including the common people were together in this vaccination campaign and it is for the welfare of the people. Do not spread lies among the people, Kamal Nath ji, don't discourage them,” he said.

Home minister Narottam Mishra said the state was making a name in the country and this was the problem of the Congress. He added that Congress was in the habit of criticising everything and even when the country made a name in the world with actions such as surgical strikes and vaccine manufacture, Congress engaged in criticism. He added that the party should rather reply as to why Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Sonia Gandhi or state president (Kamal Nath) or Congress workers were not seen distributing relief materials even for a single day during the pandemic.

Kamal Nath and other Congress leaders of the state had supported the mega vaccination campaign on June 21 and had appealed to people to get vaccinated.