Bihar Elections 2020: On free vaccine, BJP says health is a state subject
New Delhi, Oct 25: Amid the opposition''s criticism of the BJP''s Bihar poll promise of free COVID vaccines, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asserted on Saturday that the announcement was perfectly in order and a party can announce what it wants to do when it comes to power.
Sitharaman had released the Bharatiya Janata Party''s (BJP) manifesto for the Bihar polls on Thursday. A highlight of the promises made in the document was free COVID vaccines for the state''s people if the saffron party comes back to power.
Opposition parties had slammed the BJP for the promise and demanded action by the Election Commission (EC), while alleging that the ruling party was using the pandemic for political gains.
Speaking to reporters here, Sitharaman, a senior BJP leader, said, "It is a manifesto announcement. A party can announce what it wants to do when it comes to power. That is exactly what is announced. Health is a state subject. It is perfectly in order."
Every
party
in
its
manifesto
states
what
it
wants
to
do
when
it
comes
to
power,
she
added.
The
Bihar
Assembly
polls
are
scheduled
to
be
held
in
three
phases,
starting
October
28.