Naveen’s Nectar of Love Cleanse the Virus of Hate

The only and most important weapon the mankind today has against the Covid-19 Pandemic is the Vaccine. While saving lives without making any discrimination is the need of the hour, it also calls for universal vaccination against Covid-19. Taking into account the wellbeing of the humanity in general and the four and half crore of his family members in particular, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has the ultimate aim to safeguard all at this crucial juncture. In fulfilling this aim, Naveen Patnaik has been at the forefront in the fight and making all efforts to ensure that the people of Odisha get vaccinated as early as possible. His leadership has been so exemplary and successful during these difficult days that others are envying him. Petty politics and biased and immature adversaries without any agenda for public good are out on the road to disrupt the efforts and they will never succeed in their ill intentions.

Even as the Covid-19 Vaccine development was at its nascent stage, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik spoke to Adar Poonawala and encouraged him for his efforts in producing the vaccines. During his interaction, Naveen ensured that the people of his state are taken care of and are the first to take the jabs. When the Union Government declared that the state governments can procure the vaccines themselves for the 18 plus category, Naveen took the first responsibility and ordered for vaccines from state recourses. Odisha was among the first few states in the country to issue a global tender for the vaccines for its citizens. When it came to the well being of the people Naveen stood as the most dependable leader. His statesmanship as a national leader was visible in his letters to the center for centralized vaccine procurement by the Union Government. He also advocated the Center for vaccinating the people in the Metros first as they are the economic hubs of the country. Any disruptions there will have an impact on the country’s economy.

The Odisha Government, with its well planned efforts, could set up a robust supply chain and infrastructure for the vaccines and a strong delivery mechanism in the state. Vaccination centers in every nook and corner of the districts made ready to vaccinate the people. The state is leading in the country in terms of negative vaccine wastage at -3 percent. It is a welcome development as at this crucial time, every drop counts. The government made all efforts to vaccinate its healthcare workers and frontline workers first as they are playing an important role in this fight against Covid-19. All most all the priority groups in the state have already been vaccinated. Odisha recorded the much important milestone of giving one Crore doses of vaccine on the 20th of June. It also recorded highest ever daily vaccination on the same day at more than 88 thousand doses. The state government has a target of vaccinating three lakh people daily. But all these efforts will fulfill if the central government provides all the required vaccine doses.

While Naveen’s leadership continues to scale new heights, people having malicious intentions are trying to put hurdles in the noble cause. Disrupting vaccinations, they have shown the world that their partisan interests are above the national interest. They don’t want to see Odisha among the leader states. They want that the people suffer and they will take mileage from that. Playing with the lives of the people has become a handy tool for some of the halfwits.

In the last few days, there were incidents in some places in Odisha where the supporters of a particular Political Party disrupted the vaccination process for hours. And the reason for them was Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s message on Covid Appropriate behavior. They could not digest the leadership of Naveen. The vaccines are purchased with the people’s money. The state government is making all efforts to vaccinate the people. But the vandals cannot rise above their hate.

Commenting on the issue Rajya Sabha Member Sasmit Patra says that “Central Government, whether its polio, BCG, measles, DPT, Hepatitis, Vitamin A. When did it become a State program, except now that it was forced upon the States & subsequently withdrawn. Hon’ble CM’s message has been put out across state calling for using Masks and COVID appropriate behaviour, it is nothing about vaccination. It is petty and shameful to do politics out of this. I am afraid you may be insecure about your political relevance and doing this narrow minded politics. However thanks for wearing masks off late.”
According to a senior member of the Biju Janata Dal, who did not want to be quoted, “It seems that the party cadre of the BJP in the state is left without any discipline. If the central Government can use the photo of the Prime Minister in each vaccine certificate for just providing the vaccines to the states, what is wrong if the Chief Minister’s awareness message is given on vaccine receipts.” The Biju Janata Dal on the other hand seems to be behaving maturely on this issue. According to a political analyst, “as it concerns the health of the people, the members of the BJD are not on roads protesting against the center for its negligence in vaccine supplies. This shows that the leadership has a great role in a disciplined party that always works for the people. The state BJP members on the other hand have got all the wrong intentions only due to its indiscipline leadership.”

The protests aimed at disrupting the vaccination process will not only strengthen the leadership of Naveen Patnaik but also relegate the opponents more. The stature of Naveen as the most popular leader and the best chief minister of the county cannot be hampered by these petty efforts of the mean political opponents.

In a democracy like ours there is no place for intolerance and hate. People run for vaccines, not for politics. The virus of hate is more dangerous than covid 19. Naveen’s governance model is founded on love, service and sacrifice. People of Odisha have tested it for 22 years consecutively. Their faith in him and his leadership is unflinching. So far, all the credits that Odisha plucked for various achievements are dedicated to the people of Odisha. Politics for him has been a platform for service to his four and half crore of people. Nobody has been left out. India knows it. World knows it. The politics of promising more from less by some cannot be successful in Odisha. This is the time to work unitedly. And who knows better to take all along to a transformative state steering all odds than Naveen Patnaik.