CM: If Pak Declares War, Will States Buy Own Tanks?

‘Vax Should’ve Been Procured When Second Wave Started, But States Asked To Fend For Selves’

- Sidhartha Roy

New Delhi: Just as states can’t be asked to get their own weapons and look out for themselves if Pakistan declares a war on the nation, it is the central government that has to purchase and supply vaccines, not leave it to state governments to fend for themselves in the war against Covid-19, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday.

“If Pakistan declares war on India tomorrow, states cannot be asked to look out for themselves — that UP should buy its own tanks and Delhi procure its own weapons,” Kejriwal said in a digital press briefing, pointing out vaccines for people in the 1844 age group and the stock of Covaxin for the elderly was now exhausted.

Kejriwal said vaccines should have been procured from across the world when the second wave started in March, but the states were instructed to make arrangements for themselves. “I’ve been in touch with the CMs of several states, and none has left any stone unturned to be able to get vaccines,” he said. “Many state governments issued global tenders for the vaccine and failed. The vaccine companies have clearly stated that they will not communicate with the state governments, only deal directly with the central government. Why is the country not buying vaccines?”