Kharge alleged that the “Modi government has committed a cardinal sin by not vaccinating lakhs of children”.

Claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “only cares for vanity”, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge Wednesday hit out at the Central government for the alleged mismanagement of Mission Indradhanush – a scheme launched in December 2014 for a targeted approach to immunisation in the country.

“Neglect of immunisation means loss of precious lives. The gains of India’s strong foundation in immunisation laid by the Congress party, has been shamelessly wasted by the Modi Govt, as 16 lakh children have not been provided the key vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) and measles shots in 2023, eroding the advantages made in 2022,” said Kharge in a post on X.

The Congress leader added: “Not only this, the rank apathy and flagrant disdain for COVID orphan children exposed by media reports shows, nearly 50% applications for assistance to such children were rejected by PMCARES Fund, without providing any reasons! Narendra Modi ji, how will we ensure ‘Viksit Bharat’ if our children aren’t taken care of? In reality PM CARES only for vanity!”