New Delhi: Much of Thursday’s prime time was spent in discussion on the politics of a Covid-19 vaccine after the BJP announced free vaccines in its manifesto for Bihar ahead of the state’s upcoming elections.
On CNN-News18, Zakka Jacob explained the maths behind such a promise. “There is a cost to pay. If something is going to be made free of cost, that too for 1.8 billion Indians, who is going to bear that cost? The cost for each vaccine dose is capped at Rs 225.”
“In Bihar alone, which is about 72 million voters, it will cost the incoming government about Rs 1,620 crore. The Serum Institute is estimating the total cost of vaccinating Indians at Rs 80,000 crore,” he added.
Times Now’s Navika Kumar was reminded of a cliché when she mused, “It’s said that when its time for elections, all’s fair in love and war and yes, elections are about actual war on the ground.” Mixing metaphors a tad, she added, “All plugs are being pulled out to try every single trick in the book to woo voters”.
“In this war over Bihar, the BJP…has made a promise that they will give free vaccine when it comes to those in Bihar if they are voted to power.” But she somehow managed to turn this on the Opposition, by saying “The question here is, is the Opposition acting absolutely innocent? Haven’t they used opportunism in their own manifesto?”
Meanwhile, India Today’s Rajdeep Sardesai made his disdain for the vaccine promise apparent. “When you announce a free vaccine for Biharis in your poll manifesto, the charge is that you are playing politics with public health. The vaccine belongs to India, it does not belong to the BJP or Biharis or to those who vote for the BJP.”
BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi, replied, “Is this the only vaccine that has been provided free of cost by the Government of India? There are numerous vaccines.” It’s as if he wasn’t even trying to see the point.
“Tum mujhe vote do, main tumhe vaccine doonga” (Give me your vote, I’ll give you a Covid vaccine), read the headlines of Zee News, recalling Subhas Chandra Bose’s famous slogan about blood and freedom. Anchor Aman Chopra asked bluntly if one has to now look at election dates to know if the vaccine will be available or not.
Chopra asked BJP’s Gaurav Bhatia, “If your party loses the elections, will the people of Bihar not get a vaccine”?
Bhatia avoided answering and claimed, “We will win, we will win!”
Aaj Tak‘s Rohit Sardana also hosted a panel to discuss vaccine politics, on which the Congress’ spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said that only the BJP could care more about votes even during a pandemic.
But the BJP’s Sambit Patra insisted there was nothing wrong with his party’s promise and said, “When our government will win in Bihar, we will ensure the vaccine reaches everyone in the state for free. Other states will decide how they would want to proceed,” he added.