Mamata replaces PM Modi on vaccine certificate in Bengal; Minister explains why
West Bengal minister Firhad Hakim said the state government is procuring the vaccines for the 18+ population and that's why there is nothing unusual in the move.
Amid the ongoing Centre versus West Bengal tussle, the state government has replaced PM Modi’s photo on Covid-19 vaccine certificates with that of chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Justifying the move, the state government said that this is only on the certificates being issued to people falling between the age group of 18 and 45 as the state government is procuring these vaccines, not the Centre.
An official told news agency PTI beneficiaries of 45 plus are getting certificates of vaccination with the photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as in other parts of the country, but those falling in the 18-44 age bracket have photographs of Mamata Banerjee as the state government is using its resources to procure these vaccines.
“The government has started procuring vaccines directly from the manufacturers and arranging for inoculating the population. That is the reason it has been decided to use photograph of the CM on the certificates,” the news agency quoted an official as saying.
State minister for housing and outgoing mayor of the city Firhad Hakim, who is also the chairman of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation board of administrator, said other states are also taking similar steps.
