MAPUSA
The Congress on Friday appealed to the State government to focus on vaccinating maximum people in the State and save lives, instead of indulging in political optics.
“Instead of politicising the vaccination programme through Tika Utsav, the State government should focus on how to vaccinate maximum people and save the lives of Goans and Indians,” said Amarnath Panjikar, General Secretary of Congress.
The Congress general secretary was speaking to the media after presenting a representation addressed to the President of India to the Deputy Collector of Bardez Rajesh Ajgaonkar on Friday. GPCC General Secretary Agnel Fernandes and North Goa District Congress President Vijay Bhike and others were also present.
Continuing, Panjikar said it was near to impossible to complete vaccination of the 18-44 age group in Goa by July 30, as announced by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
“Our population is around 16 lakh. Only 5 lakh people in Goa have been vaccinated till today as per the data available from the Union government. This government does not have enough vaccines. Vaccinating all Goans between the age group of 18-44 by July 30 is impossible but we hope they can do it,” Panjikar said.
He said the Congress had launched an online programme at the all India level on “ “Speak up for free and universal vaccination” “ with the intention to awaken the government so that they can make vaccines available to every Indian.
“All of us follow all the Covid protocols like wearing masks, sanitisation, maintaining safe distance…but the only way to save lives is vaccination and we need to cover most people in quick time,” he said.
GPCC General Secretary Agnel Fernandes said that time was crucial as only 13 per cent of Indians have been vaccinated till today.
“If the vaccination is not done in time, the virus will mutate and the vaccination will be ineffective. We are demanding free vaccination to every citizen of India as soon as possible,” Fernandes said.
North Goa District Congress President, Vijay Bhike also spoke.
