Vaccine export by Modi government created shortage in India: Sonia Gandhi

Congress President Sonia Gandhi today accused Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government of mismanaging the Covid-19 situation and said India must focus on its own vaccination drive first before exporting.

"The (Narendra) Modi government has mismanaged the Covid situation. It has exported the vaccines and allowed a shortage to be created in India," she said while addressing a virtual meeting with the chief ministers of Congress-ruled states and ministers from the party in states where it is in power in alliance with others, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

"We must focus on India's vaccination drive first and foremost and then only export vaccines and gift them to other countries," Sonia said.

She also reviewed the efforts to fight Covid-19 situation, including the availability of vaccines, access to medicines and ventilators, chief spokesperson of the party Randeep Surjewala said.

"Mass gatherings for elections and religious events have accelerated Covid for which all of us are responsible to some extent. We need to accept this responsibility and keep the interest of the nation above our own," Sonia said and wanted all polls rallies to be cancelled.

Her remarks about canceling polls rallies came four days after assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry came to an end.

Congress is a key player in Assam and Kerala seeking to return to power in the two states.