'PR event': Congress slams dip in vaccinations after record high
New Delhi, Jun 23: The Congress on Wednesday attacked the government over the dip in vaccination numbers after a record high earlier this week with former party chief Rahul Gandhi saying the country is not safe unless vaccination is done on a large scale but sadly the government is "unable to move beyond a PR event".
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also lashed out at the Centre over the dip in the number of vaccinations after India achieved a "historic milestone" of administering 88.09 lakh coronavirus vaccine doses in a single day on June 21. the numbers dipped to over 53.4 lakh on Tuesday.
"The Delta variant (of coronavirus) is knocking on the doors of the country. Only 3.6 per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated but the PM has taken on the role of EM event manager," Priyanka Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.
After patting his own back, the vaccinations saw a drop of 40 per cent the next day, the Congress general secretary said.
"Formula of record vaccination...Madhya Pradesh, June 20: 692 vaccine doses administered, June 21: 16,91,967, June 22: 4,825," Priyanka Gandhi said.
"Collected vaccines, used it in a single day for event, then a dip the next day. For administering vaccines to all adults by December, 80-90 lakh vaccine doses will have to be administered daily," she said.
Rahul Gandhi said unless coronavirus vaccination is done on a large scale continuously, "our country is not safe".
"Sadly, the central government is not able to move beyond a PR event," the former Congress chief said in a tweet in Hindi.
In a tweet, senior Congress spokesperson P Chidambaram said, "Look at the numbers for MP, Karnataka and Haryana on Sunday to Tuesday. BJP governments pulling a rabbit out of a hat! Pure magic for a day!"
He tagged a media report on the vaccine doses administered in various states, showing the dip in numbers after the record high on Monday.
"Watch UP and Gujarat numbers for a few more days," Chidambaram added.
"I am appalled that eminent doctors attribute Monday's record to 'planning'. The plan was to 'doctor' the numbers on Monday," the former Union minister alleged.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also highlighted the Madhya Pradesh vaccination numbers for the last three days to attack the government and asked "who are we trying to fool".
Attacking the government, Chidambaram had said on Wednesday, "Hoard on Sunday, vaccinate on Monday, and go back to limping on Tuesday. That is the secret behind the world 'record' of vaccinations on a 'single day'."
"I am sure the 'feat' will find a place in the Guinness book of records! Who knows, there may be a Nobel Prize for Medicine awarded to the Modi government," he had said.
कोरोना टीकाकरण जब तक निरंतर बड़े स्तर पर नहीं होता, हमारा देश सुरक्षित नहीं है।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 23, 2021
अफ़सोस, केंद्र सरकार PR इवेंट से आगे नहीं बढ़ पा रही।
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Kohli's U-19 teammate Amanpreet Singh Gill dies at 36
New Delhi (PTI): Former India U-19 and Punjab medium pacer Amanpreet Singh Gill died at the age of 36 in Chandigarh on Wednesday, leaving the cricket fraternity in mourning.
The cause of death is not yet known.
Gill, who was Virat Kohli's U-19 teammate, featured in six first-class matches for Punjab, picking up 11 wickets.
He was also part of the Punjab franchise (Kings XI Punjab) in the inaugural Indian Premier League season, and later served as a member of Punjab's senior selection committee.
"Punjab Cricket Association deeply mourns the sad demise of Amanpreet Singh Gill, former Punjab cricketer and Member, Senior Selection Committee Punjab,” the Punjab Cricket Association announced on X.
"Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and loved ones. May Waheguru grant eternal peace to the departed soul and strength to the family in this difficult time."
Two-time World Cup-winning India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh also paid tribute to Gill.
"Deeply saddened to hear about Amanpreet Singh Gill’s passing. Shared the dressing room in our early days, he was a quiet, hardworking cricketer who loved the game. My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace Om Shanti,” Singh posted on X.
Gill played five Youth ODIs and one Youth Test for India in 2007.
In the longer format, he claimed the wicket of former Sri Lanka all-rounder Thisara Perera.
However, he did not make the Virat Kohli-led India U-19 side that went on to win the 2008 World Cup.
“Deeply saddened by the passing of Amanpreet Singh Shergill, who proudly represented Punjab and was a part of the Punjab Kings family. Our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the entire cricketing fraternity,” Punjab Kings posted on their official Instagram account.
