Those doubting Covid vaccine efficacy mentally challenged: Union Minister

SURAT, Jan 4: Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday termed as mentally challenged those opposing the efficacy of coronavirus vaccines made in India.
Pradhan’s remarks came after some Congress leaders raised doubts on the restricted use approval granted to Bharat Biotechs vaccine while its third phase trial is still underway.
“Those who have mand buddhi (are mentally challenged) and those who don’t have faith in the scientists and power of India are making such baseless statements,” Pradhan said.
“These vaccines are a special achievement of Indian companies and our scientists. People have welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative. Some mentally challenged people will never improve, especially the leadership of the Congress, which finds fault in everything,” Pradhan said.
Pradhan, who was here to inaugurate the migrant cell of Surat Municipal Corporation, also defended the new farm laws and said they would bring investment into the agriculture sector and allow cultivators to sell produce at market rates.
Meanwhile, Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and BJP member of Rajya Sabha Sushil Kumar Modi demanded Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to explain for his party describing the Covid-19 vaccine rolled out by the government as fraud.
Modi said it was surprising that Congress leaders had described rolling out of Covid-19 vaccine as fraud. People of the country were happy over the availability of Covid-19 vaccine but Congress leaders were trying to create confusion in public and demoralise scientists on the sensitive issue, he alleged.
BJP leader said that parties which had raised doubts over valour of the armed forces during surgical strike and air strike to flush out terrorists on Pakistani soil, were now raising doubts over Covid-19 vaccine.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited labs to boost the morale of scientists engaged in preparing Covid-19 vaccine, he pointed out.
Modi also came down heavily for discrimination over vaccination on lines of religion and faith. Such behaviour was an act against humanity, he noted.