Vote for me, you will need me once elections are over: Maneka to Muslims
Sultanpur (UP), Apr 12: In a controversial remark, Union minister Maneka Gandhi told Muslims to vote for her as they will need her once the Lok Sabha elections are over.
We are not Mahatma Gandhi's children that we keep giving and not get anything in return, she said in Muslim-dominated Turabkhani area on Thursday.
Gandhi, the BJP candidate from Sultanpur Lok Sabha constituency, claimed she is all set to win and told the Muslim audience that you might need me tomorrow.
The Congress reacted strongly with spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala saying she is trying to divide people on the basis of caste and community.
I am winning. I am winning because of the help and love of the people, Maneka Gandhi said at the meeting in Sultanpur, a constituency earlier held by her son Varun Gandhi.
But if my victory is without the Muslims, I will not feel very good, she said, adding she will be left with a bitter feeling.
If Muslims come for some work after this, I will think why bother, what difference will it make.
Suggesting that it was a matter of give and take, she added, We are not Mahatma Gandhi's children to keep giving without getting anything in return.
The minister asked them to check with the people in Pilibhit, her earlier constituency.
If there is even one person who says there had been something wrong on my part, don't vote for me, she said.
Gandhi said she had come with an open mind and they may feel that they might need me tomorrow.
This election I have already won, and you will need me and want to lay the foundation for this."
She also asked people to pass on this message to others.
Maneka Gandhi's remarks follow other controversial references to the Muslim electorate during the Uttar Pradesh campaign.
At her recent election meeting in Saharanpur's Deoband, Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati asked Muslims to support her alliance with the Samajwadi Party instead of splitting their vote by opting for the Congress.
In a rejoinder to this remark, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath brought up the controversial Ali-Bajrang Bali reference at an election rally.
"If the Congress, the SP and the BSP have faith in Ali, we have faith in Bajrang Bali," Aditynath said.
Lord Hanuman is called Bajrang Bali while Ali is a revered figure in Islam.
The Election Commission has sent Adityanath a notice on what could be a violation of the model code of conduct.
Union Minister Maneka Gandhi caught on camera asking Muslims to vote for her, otherwise when she is elected, she will not be inclined to listen to their requests. 'After all, we are not Mahatma Gandhi's children, are we?', the minister goes on to say. pic.twitter.com/DnrATYFBpD
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Maharashtra sets up state vaccination task force to strengthen immunisation programme
Mumbai (PTI): The Maharashtra government has set up a State Vaccination Task Force to strengthen the regular immunisation programme and review the progress of related campaigns, a health department official said on Monday.
The State Vaccination Task Force will comprise at least 29 members and will be headed by the administrative head of the health department, he informed.
The government has also constituted separate district-level and municipal vaccination task forces to improve implementation and address challenges at the grassroots level, he said.
Municipal task forces, chaired by respective civic commissioners, have been constituted in view of the vast urban population in Maharashtra and the role of civic bodies in implementing different health programmes.
The district-level task forces will function under the chairmanship of collectors.
"Complete immunisation of children at the appropriate age is an extremely simple, cost-effective and highly effective measure to reduce child mortality and the prevalence of diseases among kids. Immunisation is a powerful tool for reducing illness in children," maintained the official.
To ensure full vaccination of all children, the state government implements various campaigns from time to time as per the central government guidelines, he pointed out.
"Active participation and cooperation of other relevant government departments are essential (in making these campaigns successful)," according to the official.
The state-level body will review the regular immunisation programme, associated campaigns and vaccine-preventable diseases in detail. It will also conduct focused assessments of high-risk districts and municipal corporations, including vacancies at district, municipal and sub-district levels, availability of cold chain equipment, resource gaps and training requirements, he noted.
The state task force will review allocation and utilisation of funds for immunisation and ensure timely action by officers concerned based on reports from district and municipal task forces and state-level monitoring mechanisms, the official said.
It will also ensure active coordination and participation of other government departments in immunisation drives, while district and municipal task forces will carry out similar functions at their respective levels, the official added.
