Mumbai, (Samajweekly) The Congress’ Mumbai unit on Friday organised demonstrations protesting against the Centre’s decision to allow exports of the Covid-19 vaccines at the cost of the Indian citizens.
Led by the party’s Maharashtra Working President and ex-minister Arif Naseem Khan, the protesters emanded to know why Prime Minister Narendra Modi permitted vaccines to be sent to over 93 countries that resulted in depriving the people of India desperately needing the life-saving jabs.
The agitations took place at several locations in the eastern suburbs of Chandivali with the protestors raising slogans and carrying posters and placards condemning the government’s decision, said Khan.
Earlier this month, top leaders of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi — the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress — had slammed the PM’s move to permit the vaccines exports which has now created huge shortages for India currently battling the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic with many dying.
As per a RTI reply provided last month to Nagpur-nased activist, advocate Pranay Ajmera, the Centre revealed that from mid-January till April 10, the country had exported a total of around 6.37 crore doses to 89 countries, including 1.03 crore doses given away free and another 3.44 crore vaccines at commercial rates.
The revelations, first highlighted by IANS (April 27), had sparked of a massive furore across India with top leaders from across the political spectrum viciously slamming the move, while the government had defended its actions.
