RJD's Misa Bharti alleges PM Modi's photo from COVID vaccine certificate removed 'fearing defamation'

Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad's daughter and candidate from Patliputra Lok Sabha seat Misa Bharti on Friday (May 3) alleged that after various reports surrounding doubtful results of the COVID vaccine surfaced, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's photo from the coronavirus vaccination certificate has been removed fearing defamation.

"It is an old habit for the Prime Minister to take credit for any work. Now, when doubtful results of the Corona vaccine are coming out, fearing defamation, the Prime Minister's picture has been removed from the Corona vaccine certificate," said Bharti while speaking with the reporters.

She further said that the leaders of the Grand Alliance were making attempts to spread awareness among the people, calling for an investigation of the COVID-19 vaccine.

"The general public is being made aware of this by the leaders of the Mahagathbandhan. Corona vaccination is a subject of investigation and it should be investigated at every level and strict action should be taken against the culprits," she said.

She further hit out at the BJP for showing up in the state of Bihar only during the polls.

"BJP leaders only come to Bihar during the elections. They only remember Bihar at the time of the elections..," she said.

"I just want to know when Bihar will be getting the special package. When will the sugar mills in the state re-open, when will the state get factories... When will PM Narendra Modi, JP Nadda and other leaders of the partyanswer that?"

Bharti's remarks came after pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca admitted that its coronavirus vaccine Covishield and Vaxzevria "can, in very rare cases, cause Thrombosis Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS)."

An AstraZeneca spokesperson stated, "Our sympathy goes out to anyone who has lost loved ones or reported health problems. Patient safety is our highest priority, and regulatory authorities have clear and stringent standards to ensure the safe use of all medicines, including vaccines."

Centre responds on removal of Modi's photo

Officials from the central health ministry, while speaking to The Print, said the photograph was removed in the wake of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in the country.

This was not the first time that Modi's photo was removed from vaccination certificates.

In 2022, his photo was removed from vaccination certificates in five states- Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur, and Goa at the instructions of the election commission ahead of the assembly polls in these states.

(With inputs from agencies)