Donating vaccines to other countries was PR exercise for PM Modi: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

"As the Covid Pandemic ravaged the world, however, an uncomfortable truth began to emerge. India’s status of excellence as a vaccine manufacturer became yet another propaganda tool for our Prime Minister," Gandhi wrote in a long Facebook post.

She said between January and March, 6.5 crore vaccines were exported by India to other countries.

"Many countries were even sent the vaccines as free gifts from India. All this was a grand PR exercise for our Prime Minister who had already declared victory over Corona at international forums at the same time. Meanwhile only 3.5 crore Indians were vaccinated against Covid-19 during this time," she alleged.

The Congress leader said that as of today, 11 pct of all Indian citizens have received the first dose of vaccinations and only 3 pct have received both doses.

"The celebratory “Teeka Utsav” was announced right in the middle of the nightmare being faced by people who were running from pillar to post trying to save the lives of their loved ones. Within a month of its announcement the number of vaccinations fell by 83%," she wrote.

She slammed the use of the Prime Minister’s photograph plastered across vaccine certificates, when "he has abdicated responsibility for ensuring the vaccination of all Indians."

"Instead, the central government has conveniently passed the buck to the states. The states in turn, strapped of finances and with no assistance from the Central Government have been left to make arrangements of their own," her post read.

"As you can see, in a glaring testament to his inability to govern, the Prime Minister actually took the steps that ensured India’s inability to vaccinate its own sons and daughters against Covid-19," said the fiery post.