Hyderabad: Out of 'political compulsions', neither the ruling TRS nor the principal opposition Congress in Telangana has reacted to the stupendous achievement of India crossing the "100 crore vaccines mark" on Thursday.
They have neither congratulated the Centre nor the scientists nor the health workers on achieving this historic feat.
BJP leaders, however, hailed and celebrated the achievement of the nation.
Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan expressed happiness over India crossing the 'one billion mark' and appreciated the efforts of scientists, doctors, health workers and scientists. Union tourism minister G. Kishan Reddy tweeted, "Incredible feat by India. The sheer hard work and undeterred perseverance of our scientists, healthcare professionals have resulted in administering a billion doses! This profound exercise is a victory for the whole world to cherish!"
BJP state president Bandi Sanjay celebrated the occasion at Singapur village on Thursday while campaigning for the party in Huzurabad constituency. "This day will be written in golden letters in India's history. At a time when people across India were facing severe hardships due to Covid-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to their rescue by introducing Covid vaccines for free to the entire country's population. In Telangana, the people had to sell their properties to get Covid-19 treatment as KCR did not bring Covid-19 under Arogyasri and he also failed to implement PM Modi's Ayushman Bharat scheme. Let alone helping the people, KCR pushed the people in Telangana into more trouble with his callous attitude," Sanjay said.
BJP senior leader Gudur Narayan Reddy said, "People of the country would be grateful to PM Modi for his relentless efforts in ensuring the administering of 100 crore Covid vaccine jabs, after China. India has achieved this target in a short span of nine months under the able leadership of PM. He played a pivotal role in the production and distribution of C-vaccines in the country."
Chief Minister Chandrashekar Rao is himself holding the health portfolio since May 2, after he eased out health minister Etala Rajendar from the state cabinet.
There was no congratulatory message either from the Chief Minister's Office or the health department. There was no response from the TRS either. TRS working president K.T. Rama Rao and MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha remain active on social media platforms but avoided posting any congratulatory messages on their Twitter accounts.
TRS sources said the charged-up political atmosphere prevailing in the state due to the Huzurabad Assembly bypoll on October 20, in which the TRS and the BJP were engaged in a fierce electoral battle is the reason for the party maintaining a 'stoic silence' on the one-billionth vaccination. They say hailing this feat achieved by the BJP-led government at the Centre will have political implications and will give an advantage to the BJP in Huzurabad at a time when polling is just a week away.
