The BJP Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, has written a letter on Friday to the Union Health Minister, demanding probe into the Kasba Covid Vaccine fraud in Kolkata by the central investigating agencies as reported by the ANI.

In the letter he cited that though Covid vaccination drives are being ramped up daily in states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat with the central government spearheading the largest free Covid vaccination for all Indian citizens above 18 years old, West Begal’s record in vaccination is abysmal due to lack of enthusiasm and co-operation from the Bengal government.

He alleged in his letter that the Bengal government’s vaccination drive in many places are discriminatory and subject to a background check on the political affiliation of citizens by the ruling TMC party before they are given vaccination coupons akin to voting slips for getting vaccinated.

Apart from this discriminatory practice, an even more alarming report has come to fore two days back, where a huge Covid vaccination fraud has been uncovered in the very heart of West Bengal’s capital city, Kolkata.

Suvendu states that one Debanjan Deb impersonating as an IAS officer working as Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has been holding illegal ‘vaccination camps’ in Ward No.107 of Kasba in Kolkata under the banner of KMC.

These ‘vaccination camps’ were passed off as government drives by decorating it with trademark blue and green balloons as in TMC government events. Suvedu states that these camps have been held in Amherst street Sonarpur and hundreds of people have been inoculated. Moreover, Suvendu alleges that while Aadhaar cards of people in Kasba were procured from the vaccine recipients, they have not yet been issued certificates of vaccination.

Suvendu wrote that this massive fraud was committed right under the nose of local administration and police and displays their gross dereliction of duty. He pertinently questions that whether the vaccines administered to the unsuspecting people were really Covishield vaccines as claimed by the accused as it poses a serious health hazard to the public if these vaccines were found to be not genuine.

Suvendhu wrote that if the vaccines were not genuine Covishield, then there needs to be a thorough probe on whether they were toxic substance or measles vaccines or just plain water. Suvendu writes that if the people who received these vaccines thinking it as genuine, were to die or contract Covid then it would reflect badly on the effectiveness of the Covishield vaccine and defame the massive vaccination drive steered by the Centre. Suvendu thus stressed the need for a thorough investigation prioritising public health and safety.

Suvendu further says, if the Covishield vaccines were indeed genuine as claimed by the accused it also raises questions of pilferage from the government stock which cannot happen without the the knowledge and complicit involvement of civic authorities.

In either scenarios an impartial, transparent and independent investigation is required as Suvendu points out in the letter that the Kolkota police investigation on the fraud could come under the influence of the political clout enjoyed by the accused with access to important leaders of the TMC.

Suvendu wrote in his complaint letter that several photos of the accused, Debanjan Deb sharing stage with Kolkata’s Mayor, Firhad Karim, West Bengal Minister Subrata Mukherjee, TMC MP Santanu Sen, TMC MLAs Debasis Kumar, Lovely Maitra, KMC councillor Baiswanor Chatterjee and others directly or indirectly endorsing his nefarious activities.

Suvendu also alleges that Debanjan Deb has been seen earlier posing with Government of West Bengal files or hosting Duare Sarkar (Government at Doorstep) camps of West Bengal Government in Ward No.66 of KMC.

Suvendhu thus says that with such deep influence, an impartial probe cannot be expected from the Kolkata Police under pressure from the ruling TMC. Hence, he emphasises for a need for a thorough impartial investigation by independent central agencies in the vaccination fraud effecting public health and safety given the devastating effect of the raging Covid pandemic.

These kind of frauds if not investigated thoroughly and nipped in the bud by the central authorities, it would add to the vaccine hesitancy and doubt in the mind of public with regard to the effectiveness of the Covid vaccines effecting the control of the pandemic in the country.

Suvendu thus urged to the union Health Minister to order a thorough investigation by the central agencies, undaunted by pressure from the West Bengal state’s ruling party and government which is necessitated to restore the credibility of the entire Covid vaccination drive in West Bengal.

Image sourced from internet.

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