Akhilesh says he will not take Covid jab, calls it 'BJP’s vaccine'

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has said he will not take the COVID-19 vaccine, saying it is the “vaccine of the BJP”. Akhilesh’s statement drew sharp criticism from the BJP in Uttar Pradesh which accused the Yadav scion of “insulting” doctors and scientists.

Speaking to media persons in Lucknow on Saturday (January 2), Akhilesh Yadav said, “How can I trust the vaccine, which will be used for vaccination by the BJP? We cannot get vaccinated by the BJP’s vaccine.”  He said his party will regain power in Uttar Pradesh in the  2022 elections and then everybody will get the vaccine free of cost.

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Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya responded saying, “Akhilesh Yadav does not have trust in the vaccine, and people of Uttar Pradesh do not have trust in Akhilesh Yadav. His questioning of the vaccine is an insult to doctors and scientists of the country. He should tender an apology.”

Meanwhile, select hospitals across the country conducted a dry run of vaccination on Saturday. The nationwide exercise is aimed at understanding the best way to administer the jab and plug loopholes in logistics and training, if any.

The first dry run was held in four states — Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, and Assam — earlier this week.