"PM's Photograph On Vaccine Certificate Will Be Taken Off," Say: Source

Cong. Leader Priyanka Gandhi slams Central Govt.

New Delhi: Ahead of the Uttar Pradesh election polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's photograph has been taken off vaccine certificates in five states where elections will be held next month, sources have said.

Earlier, a similar step was taken during a row of state elections held in April-May last year after complaints from various opposition parties.

According to the Cong. party, they alleged that the vaccination process is being used as a means for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "personal publicity" rather than a tool to save people's lives.

While slamming the BJP Govt. over the vaccination programme, Cong. leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had launched the "Zimmidaar Kaun (Who is responsible)" campaign.

Cong. leader Priyanka said that, given India's history of vaccine production and the vastness of its vaccine programmes, it is easy to believe that the government would do this work in a better way.

She also alleged to the Central Govt., "But the bitter truth is that from the beginning of the pandemic, vaccines in India became a tool for the Prime Minister's publicity rather than a tool to save the lives of the common people."

She added, "As a result, India, the world's largest vaccine producer, has today become dependent on vaccine donations from other countries and has joined the ranks of the world's weakest countries in terms of vaccination."

Recently, the Kerala High Court dismissed a petition challenging PM Modi's photograph on vaccination certificates.

As per the court, they imposed a fine of ? 1 lakh on the petitioner, saying "Why are you ashamed of our Prime Minister... The petition seems to be filed with political motives and a publicity motivated petition. Therefore, it deserves to be dismissed with a heavy cost".