JAIPUR: Deputy leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore on Friday accused energy minister B D Kalla of saying that elder citizens were ‘living on bonus’ so the children should be given priority in vaccination.
Rathore quoted a video shared on Twitter to make the charge.
In the video widely shared on the micro-blogging platform, Kalla is, however, heard narrating what a senior citizen apparently said on Covid-19 vaccination.
“Who is given a vaccine first? The kids.
But the kids are yet to be vaccinated (for Covid-19).
They (Centre government) have vaccinated the elderlies first.
I have heard an old man say that he is 80-85 years old leading a life of bonus and urged that the vaccine be given to his grandson or son, as it was important to save their lives.
He said whether he dies of corona or survives, doesn’t matter but we should at least save the future generations,” Kalla is heard saying in the video clip.
The minister then goes on to criticise the Central government’s vaccination policy.
“This vaccination policy is very wrong.
The vaccine should be first given to the kids, then to youth and then to the old people,” Kalla said.
Rathore quoted the video and tweeted, “Elders are living on bonus—minister B D Kalla ji.
Elders are the pride of the house and the risk of them getting infected by corona is also high, so it is our moral obligation to vaccinate and keep them safe.
What message do you want to give to the younger generation by making such remarks for the elders?” TOI tried to contact minister Kalla for a comment, but his phone remained unanswered.