A joint statement by 13 major opposition parties in India published on Sunday demanded the Central government to immediately launch a free mass vaccination programme across the country.
The statement also calls upon the Central government to focus all attention on ensuring the uninterrupted flow of Oxygen supplies to all hospitals and health centres across the country.
Sonia Gandhi (INC) HD Deve Gowda (JD-S) Sharad Pawar (NCP) Uddhav Thackeray (SS) Mamata Banerjee (TMC) Hemant Soren (JMM) MK Stalin (DMK) Kum. Mayawati (BSP) Farooq Abdullah (JKPA) Akhilesh Yadav (SP) Tejashwi Yadav (RJD) D Raja (CPI) Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) are signatories in the statement.
The total vaccinations across the country rose to over 15.66 crores after India liberalised its policy and allowed vaccine companies to sell the vaccine in the open market. On Saturday, India began its private vaccination drive for 18+ people although many states flag acute shortage of oxygen.
The Health Ministry said 84,599 beneficiaries in the 18-44 age group received their first dose of coronavirus vaccine in the country on Saturday.
India continues to face catastrophic crisis due to COVID-19 surge in the country that is killing thousands everyday. The daily caseload rose to over 4,00,000 — highest in the world. Government critics says the actual number is much higher that official data.
