Akhilesh Yadav Says He Will Not Take "BJP's COVID Vaccine", Stirs Controversy

Lucknow, January 2 (TNA) Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav stirred an unsavoury controversy on the weekend as he said that he will not take the COVID vaccine shot for he did not trust it since it was a "BJP governments initiative".

“I will not get vaccinated by the shot given by the BJP government as I don't trust them. When we (SP) will come to power, we will ensure free vaccine to everyone," he told media persons.

The statement did not not go down well with most people as India is on the threshold of approving massive vaccination and dry runs are being conducted across the country.

The former chief minister's statement immediate was retaliated by the ruling party as senior leaders shot back at it.Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya demanded an apology for questioning the scientific community’s hard work in producing the vaccine in a record time.

"Akhilesh Yadav doesn't trust the vaccine and the people of Uttar Pradesh don’t trust Akhilesh Yadav. The questions raised on vaccine is an insult to doctors and scientists of our country. Akhilesh should apologize for this," he said. State vice-president Vijay Bahadur Pathak said that Yadav was making such statements out of frustration at the good work being done by the Modi, Yogi and other BJP governments.