Union minister Anurag Thakur said even the world believes that 160 countries could get anti-coronavirus vaccines because of India, while Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray was scared and stayed at home throughout the pandemic.
Thakur's comment came in response to Thackeray's barb over BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis purportedly giving credit for the vaccine development to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Uddhav ji was scared of the COVID-19 pandemic and remained at home. Modi ji offered leadership to society and encouragement to the scientists and vaccine-makers, Thakur said, replying to reporters' questions here.
Not just the country, but the world believes that 160 countries received the vaccine against COVID-19 through the vaccine-Maitri programme of our country, added Thakur.
A person who did not leave his home for two and a half years due to the fear of COVID-19 was ousted from power by his own party workers and people, Thakur further said, referring to Thackeray whose government in Maharashtra collapsed last June following Eknath Shinde's rebellion.
Earlier, Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis had said that Modi made the vaccine and provided it to the world. Thackeray, in a speech at a party event on Monday, seized on the first line of Fadnavis's statement and asked, If Modi ji made the vaccine, what were the scientists doing? Were they (merely) plucking grass?.
Without naming the Congress-led UPA regime, Thakur said, Uddhav ji joined hands with the parties which were mere spectators during such attacks. They were in silent mode. The Modi government carries out surgical strike. But Uddhav ji joins hands with those who doubt the bravery of our armed forces. Uddhav ji joined hands with those who could not give bulletproof jackets (to soldiers) despite being in power for ten years.