The Congress-ruled state of Chhattisgarh has issued new vaccine certificates with Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s photo instead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photo. After this move by the state government, several questions are rising over the matter.
Chhattisgarh government has already floated its vaccination portal CGTEEKA for 18-44-year-olds. The vaccination certificate will be issued by this portal instead of Cowin.
On this matter, the Chhattisgarh health Minister TS Singh Deo said, “When the government of India was providing the money and vaccine, they had the Prime Minister’s photograph. If the state government is doing something, then we'll use Chief Minister’s photograph.”
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The Minister has alleged that the Center has left states on its own amid pandemic. States have to bear the financial burden to procure vaccines so, the state government has launched its own website ‘CGTEEKA’ for vaccination. Also, the state will issue a vaccine certificated with CM’s photo instead of PM Modi's photo.
Meanwhile, Dharamlal Kaushik, the Chhattisgarh BJP leader of the opposition has opposed the state government’s approach.
“It is a standard practice of Chhattisgarh government to take undue credit over the Centre’s schemes. Though it is Centre’s decision that states must procure vaccine, but when the vaccination drive for 18 plus age group is Centre’s decision, then states should consider to use Prime Minister’s photo,” said Kaushik.
Earlier, Jharkhand had also replaced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s picture with Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s on the vaccine certificates. Also, the Maharashtra government had urged the Centre to let it design its own app and certificates for vaccination.