New Delhi: The Congress party continues to be divided over Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, with some leaders criticising the “premature” approval for the indigenously-developed Covid-19 vaccine, even as party chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala welcomed the move.
Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin was granted conditional nod, based on incomplete Phase 3 trial results data last week. The vaccine has been recommended for restricted emergency use authorisation by a subject expert committee appointed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation.
On Monday, Congress leader Milind Deora added to the chorus of party leaders questioning the hasty approval.
“When we habitually oppose for the sake of opposing, we risk losing the credibility to ask genuine questions & hold the government accountable,” he tweeted. “No less the Prime Minister must come clean & restore eroding public faith in #Covaxin.”
When we habitually oppose for the sake of opposing, we risk losing the credibility to ask genuine questions & hold the government accountable.
No less the Prime Minister must come clean & restore eroding public faith in #Covaxin.https://t.co/mjhBOedU3h
— Milind Deora | मिलिंद देवरा ☮️ (@milinddeora) January 4, 2021
Subsequently, in an interview to News18, Deora said, “There are sections of the scientific community that are concerned about one of the vaccines and the speedy approval given to it, no one is saying Indian vaccines are bad… So we should not get into a political slugfest.
“Bharat Biotech is a good company,” he added. “But a process has to be followed after which regulatory approvals are given and there has been a debate as to why this company’s vaccine was given approval in such a hasty manner.”
The Congress is grateful to the scientific community, we are thankful to the Government for moving swiftly in developing a home grown vaccine. But there are questions regarding the Covaxin's approval, so that should be addressed: Congress Leader @milinddeora tells @_pallavighosh pic.twitter.com/sIheKNyRKV
— News18 (@CNNnews18) January 4, 2021
Two other senior Congress leaders, Shashi Tharoor and Jairam Ramesh, had Sunday raised questions over the “premature and dangerous” approval.
“The Covaxin has not yet had Phase 3 trials. Approval was premature and could be dangerous. @drharshvardhan should please clarify. Its use should be avoided till full trials are over. India can start with the AstraZeneca vaccine in the meantime,” Tharoor had tweeted.
The Covaxin has not yet had Phase 3 trials. Approval was premature and could be dangerous. @drharshvardhan should please clarify. Its use should be avoided till full trials are over. India can start with the AstraZeneca vaccine in the meantime. https://t.co/H7Gis9UTQb
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 3, 2021
Jairam Ramesh, seeking a clarification from Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, said “it is puzzling that internationally-accepted protocols relating to phase 3 trials are being modified for Covaxin.”
Bharat Biotech is a first-rate enterprise, but it is puzzling that internationally-accepted protocols relating to phase 3 trials are being modified for Covaxin. Health Minister @drharshvardhan should clarify. pic.twitter.com/5HAWZtmW9s
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) January 3, 2021
‘Give us free, best and approved vaccine’
Despite senior voices in the party questioning the speedy approval of the vaccine, the Congress has officially welcomed Covaxin, with chief party spokesperson Surjewala calling the approval a “great start for the New Year”.
“Kudos to our scientists & researchers of Bharat Biotech on approval of the indigenously developed Corona vaccine & Serum Institute & its scientists too. India has always lead the way in path breaking innovations in past & will continue to do the same,” he tweeted Sunday.
Kudos to our scientists & researchers of Bharat Biotech on approval of the indigenously developed Corona vaccine & Serum Institute & its scientists too.
India has always lead the way in path breaking innovations in past & will continue to do the same.
Great start for New Year. pic.twitter.com/HbjP5jh7mG
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) January 3, 2021
Party spokesperson Gaurav Vallabh denied that there was any “divide” in the party over the vaccine.
“The Congress’ position is clear. We are saying that the government should promise a free vaccine to the entire country, which is the best quality vaccine in the world and has passed all the tests according to the protocols set by our scientific community,” Vallabh told ThePrint.
“There is no question of doubting our scientists or their research. All we are saying is that the vaccine should have fulfilled all the regulatory requirements,” he added.
Also read: Why Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin is the object of national pride & scientific scepticism
War of words with Hardeep Puri
Both Tharoor and Ramesh faced backlash from the ruling BJP over their remarks, with Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri saying they were “behaving true to form”.
“They first questioned the valour of our soldiers & are now unhappy that the two vaccines to get DCGI nod are made in India. Clearly they are on a quest for permanent political marginalization,” Puri tweeted.
Our in-house cynics M/s Jairam, Tharoor & Akhilesh are behaving true to form.
They first questioned the valour of our soldiers & are now unhappy that the two vaccines to get DCGI nod are made in India.
Clearly they are on a quest for permanent political marginalization.
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) January 3, 2021
Tharoor, however, hit back saying he “would be happy and proud if more Indian vaccines are approved— but only after a full 3-phase trial confirms they are safe & effective.
“Short-circuiting the process is unprecedented, inadvisable & risks lives,” he tweeted.
. First: I have never questioned the valour of our soldiers. Second: I would be happy and proud if more Indian vaccines are approved — but only after a full 3-phase trial confirms they are safe & effective. Short-circuiting the process is unprecedented, inadvisable &risks lives.
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 3, 2021
Also read: Covaxin approved as it’s more likely to act against mutant Covid strain, says ICMR chief
Politicians to wade into areas requiring technical competence can only be from Chatukars. The approvals given by Government is obviously not based on some Babu’s opinion.
The Knowledgeable people finally granting ok have not reached where they have without technical competence and research background.
This knowledge is different from IIT graduation or some irrelevant degree to science from US or UK.
It is the politicians whos money making over past decades has led to millions of deaths, the scientists giving approval have no such record.
Thoughtless & mindless is what the Congress has become.
A caricature.
Do Ramesh, Tharoor & Deora have a clue what they are talking about?
These folk have lost their last shred of credibility with these thoughtless utterances. Nobody takes them seriously anymore.