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Amid growing concerns over the side effects of the Covishield vaccine, the photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been removed from the Corona vaccine certificates across the country. Instead of the Prime Minister’s picture, the certificates now display only a message from him, emphasizing India’s collective effort to combat Covid-19. This development has sparked discussions on social media platforms.
Clarification from Health Ministry
The Health Ministry has clarified that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photo was removed from the vaccine certificates due to the Model Code of Conduct in force during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. This is not the first instance of PM Modi’s photo being removed from Covid vaccination certificates. A similar step was taken during the assembly elections held in various states in 2022, as mandated by the Election Commission.
Earlier, PM Modi’s photo was prominently displayed on the certificates, accompanied by the message, ‘Together, India will defeat Corona,’ attributing the vaccination efforts to the Prime Minister. However, this time, his picture has been omitted, possibly in response to reports of side effects associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine, of which Covishield is a variant.
Controversy Surrounding PM Modi’s Photo on Vaccine Certificates
In 2021, controversy erupted over the printing of PM Modi’s photo on vaccine certificates, leading to a legal battle that reached the Kerala High Court. Critics argued that PM Modi’s photo was not printed on vaccine certificates in other countries. However, Justice PV Kunhikrishnan defended the decision, asserting that pride in one’s Prime Minister is a matter of national sentiment.
