Several BJP MPs stormed out of a parliamentary panel meeting on the topic of vaccine development on Wednesday, claiming that it was not the proper moment to discuss vaccination policy, according to sources.
Those who spoke before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology included government scientific advisor K Vijaya Raghavan, ICMR Director General VK Bhargava, and Secretary in the Department of Biotechnology Renu Swarup.
The conference was hosted by Congress MP Jairam Ramesh and covered topics such as COVID-19 vaccine development and coronavirus genomic sequencing and variations.
When many opposition MPs indicated a willingness to raise concerns concerning the Centre’s vaccination strategy, such as lengthening the time between two doses, BJP MPs reacted angrily, with some even demanding the meeting be postponed and walking out, according to sources.
According to insiders, the BJP MPs believe that because the country is in the middle of a vaccine drive, now is not the time to bring up concerns that might stymie the vaccination process.
According to them, panel chairman Ramesh said that the meeting should follow the agenda.
When a BJP MP insisted on a vote on the meeting’s delay, Ramesh flatly refused, claiming that standing committee meetings are run by agreement.
According to the sources, Ramesh believed there would be no voting, even if it was his final meeting as chairman.
Opposition lawmakers claimed that they, too, had the right to question since, as parliamentarians, they are accountable to the public.
According to reports, the drama lasted almost an hour before key officials were summoned to testify before the meeting.
All attendees of the conference congratulated the scientific community for their participation in the epidemic, according to the sources.
Later, Ramesh said in a tweet that all stories stating PM-CARES was addressed in the meeting were incorrect and that it was not mentioned even once throughout the 150-minute discussion.
