AAP protests against Covid-19 vaccine exports

Senior AAP leader and chief spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj said the country’s population of 1.3 billion has the first right over Covid-19 vaccines that have been produced and manufactured by scientists in India.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday protested outside the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) headquarters against the Centre’s decision to export Covid-19 vaccines, and urged that the jabs be made available for all adults in the country. The BJP, however, alleged that AAP workers were not wearing masks or distancing during the protest.

AAP workers shout slogans during a protest against the central government outside BJP HQ in New Delhi on April 7, 2021. (ANI Photo)

The Delhi Police broke up the protest, arguing that no gatherings in the city are allowed, as per Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) orders.

Senior AAP leader and chief spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj said the country’s population of 1.3 billion has the first right over Covid-19 vaccines that have been produced and manufactured by scientists in India.

“Before Pakistan and Afghanistan, every Indian citizen has the right to get vaccinated first. It is being said that one of the widespread variants of coronavirus is affecting children below the age of 15. Today, the number of Covid-19 cases in India is among the highest in the world, because of which the country is getting defamed globally. But instead, the Centre is planning to export the vaccine to 68 countries only for the Prime Minister to gain applause,” he said.

The Delhi BJP, however, lashed out at the AAP for allegedly shirking Covid norms.

“The people of Delhi are questioning the double standards of the AAP. On one hand, the AAP government is slapping fines of up to ₹2,000 on people for not wearing masks. On the other, the party is holding protests where no one is wearing a mask or distancing,” said Praveen Shankar Kapoor, of the Delhi BJP. htc