It can be matter of pride for any patriotic Indian that after a very resilient fight against the deadly Corona virus for months, India is among the very few countries in the world to have developed its own vaccines, not one but two, researched and developed indigenously by country’s scientists. With several trial runs conducted for a couple of months Indian vaccines have been found to be the most effective ones with no recorded side or aftereffects.

Now, India has rolled out world’s biggest vaccination programme with an aim to immunise a population of more than 1.35 billion in coming months. India’s illustrious Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who led the fight against the deadly virus from the front, declared the start of the campaign in a televised speech. The first vaccine in India was administered to a health worker at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences. Prime Minister rightly said while launching the vaccination that ‘We are launching the world’s biggest vaccination drive and it shows the world our capability’.

India has registered around 11 million corona virus cases, which is second highest in the world after United States and over 152 k deaths so far, due to the virus. India wanted a vaccine which needed to be effective and had no side effects and our local talent did not disappoint in creating one. The Indian vaccine is not only effective in terms of curing the disease but also the most cost effective of all available vaccines so far. This is one the reasons, the world is now looking towards India to get this vaccine. India has taken an early lead in not only starting immunisation at home but soon will start exporting also to a several neighbouring and many developed countries of the world. India makes about 60% of the vaccines globally and many countries are eagerly waiting to see the shipments arriving for them soon. India targets to immunise at least 300 million people by end of July. Modi government has not lost any opportunity to change the pandemic into an opportunity especially in the health sector. There are several medical tools and health equipment required for Corona treatment that were developed and created during the pandemic period and now being exported to many countries.

While, on one hand we may feel good and happy about the local Indian talent who are leaving a mark on the world map, the dirty game of politics is also on in full steam. The opposition parties combined, have become desperate to see Modi government performing so brilliantly even in the tough times that they are spending all their energy to find ways to derail the entire process. A lot of show down and nuisance has already been created in the name of Farmers agitation, which is still continuing, now they have started spreading lies and misinformation campaign about the vaccines and vaccination programme. It is a real shame that opposition parties are turning a blind eye to national interest for their own vested interests. They are just opposing and questioning anything, and everything being done by the government. While the whole world, including WHO, is applauding Indian government and Prime Minister Modi in particular for their splendid work they have done to handle such a massive crisis where even world’s superpower USA, lost the battle to the pandemic but Indian opposition parties are only busy finding faults in their work.

Pandemics will come and go but what India needs to learn and acquire very urgently is a ‘national character’. Today it is Modi government, tomorrow it can be someone else but what all the Indians need to develop is a strong national character. In a democracy, you can oppose any individual, party or a government but not at the cost of your nations’ dignity and integrity. I hope we Indians will learn it soon.

-Yugal Parashar