BJYM accuses Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha of pressing fake allegations; Vaccination scam issue getting murky

North Karimganj MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha has recently alleged in the Assam Assembly session that three Covid-19 vaccination centres in Karimganj are illegally charging Rs 5 for the vaccine jabs. During the Question Hour of the assembly session, Purkayastha raised the issue by tabling an official letter written by the Additional Chief Medical and Health Officer of the district flagging the matter.

In reply, the Health Minister of Assam Keshab Mahanta said that he’ll look into the allegation and probe the matter.

Yesterday, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), Karimganj branch met with the health department of the district regarding the issue. After discussing the issue with the Joint Director, they came up with a press release stating that the alleged fee of Rs 5 was not charged as a registration fee for the inoculation but rather for the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) which is mandatory before vaccination. They also condemned the statement made by the Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha in the Assam Assembly session regarding the allegation calling it misleading and fake.

“Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha has alleged in the Assembly that in the three sites in Karimganj, namely the Karimganj Civil Hospital, DSA Complex and Public High School, Rs 5 is being charged as registration fee for inoculation. This is totally false, as Rs 5 has been charged only for the mandatory RAT before getting vaccinated. Proper coupons have been provided to whoever came applied for RAT. We as a part of the Yuva Morcha heavily condemn this statement given by the MLA as it disrespects the work done by the health officials and the district administration in fighting the pandemic,” said a member of the BJYM.

Speaking with Barak Bulletin Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha said that the entire episode is quite disappointing and shameful.

He asserted, “Whatever I presented in the Assembly isn’t my words, it’s the written record of the Additional Health Officer who inquired about the transparency of all the transactions done in the name of vaccination. It was his report who wanted to know where this money is going and who is overseeing this Rs 5 fee for vaccination in those three centres. Now if they don’t even listen to the official health department, then how am I to blame here?”

He added, “I’m answerable to the public only, and this report was provided in the interest of the common people, who are bearing these ₹5 charges before getting the vaccination. The people have the right to know how is this being managed and where this money is going, as the vaccination programme under the government is supposed to be free of cost.”

Although both parties have already engaged in the blame game surrounding this vaccination fiasco, it surely goes a long way to shed light on the haphazard way the entire vaccination drive is being carried out. On one hand, we have the North Karimganj MLA demanding transparency regarding the Rs 5 fee charged before inoculation, on the other hand, the BJYM Karimganj is accusing the former of misleading the Assembly and the public as they claim that the Rs 5 fee charged was due to the mandatory RAT done before inoculating someone. The Health Minister Keshab Mahanta has already said that he’ll look into the matter to sort out this issue which is being used in a war or words between two parties.