As Maharashtra grapples with the shortage of vaccines and medical infrastructure amid a deadly second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, controversy erupted over former Maharashtra CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis’ 22-year-old nephew getting vaccinated for the virus out of line. He has reportedly taken both doses.
He reportedly got his first dose at Mumbai’s Seven Hills Hospital while the second one at Nagpur’s National Cancer Institute.
Several expressed shock as to how Tanmay Fadnavis, who was not eligible yet, got vaccinated while the ones who are eligible were still struggling.
While Fadnavis issued a clarification saying “he stands for protocol,” the Shiv Sena and the BJP, along with several others on Twitter called out the “favouritism” and “privilege” while the common man struggles to get vaccinated.
How Did the Matter Come to the Fore?
The matter came to the fore after Tanmay Fadnavis took to Instagram to share a picture of him getting a second dose at Nagpur’s National Cancer Institute. The picture was captioned: “Done with Second Dose of Vaccination... Stay Home... Stay Safe...”
The post is now deleted from his Instagram handle.
- 01/04(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/Srivatsa)
- 02/04(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/Srivatsa)
- 03/04(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/Srivatsa)
- 04/04(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/Srivatsa)
‘People Dying, But Fadnavis Saved Family’: What Shiv Sena, Congress Say
Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi took to Twitter to say that even Prime Minister Modi didn’t flout rules to get the vaccine but Fadnavis has his own rules.
“Even the Prime Minister waited for his turn to get vaccinated, didn’t flout rules but Fadnavis ji works by his own rules. Same for journalists who should have ideally been considered frontline workers yet not vaccinated while they report from the field because privileged they aren’t (sic),” she said.
“When eligible persons are struggling for vaccination, how can a relative of a BJP leader who is barely 22-years-old get it,” Congress leader and Maharashtra minister Nitin Raut asked, as quoted by Hindustan Times. Raut has demanded an inquiry against Fadnavis, adding that “favoritism” should be dealt with sternly.
Congress’ Srivatsa shared screenshots of the post and asked: “Dear @Dev_Fadnavis, is your Nephew Tanmay Fadnavis 45+ years old? If not, how is he eligible for taking the Vaccine? Just like Remdesivir, are you hoarding Vaccines & giving it to your family members? People are dying. There is Vaccine Shortage. But Fadnavis family is Safe (sic).”
Maharashtra Congress took to Twitter to say: “Are the lives of family members of the BJP are more important? Are others ants? Is there no value for their lives?”
‘Tanmay a Distant Relative; Stand for Following Protocol’: What Fadnavis Said
In his defence, Fadnavis said that Tanmay is his distant relative and that he stands for the protocol being followed.
“Tanmay Fadnavis is my distant relative. I have no idea under which criteria he received his dose. If it has been taken as per guidelines, then there should be no objection. But if it is in violation of guidelines, it is completely improper,” Fadnavis said, according to The Indian Express, adding that his wife and daughter have also not received vaccination because they don’t qualify for it.
“I am of the firm opinion that everybody must follow the rules,” he said.
Fadnavis’ office told Hindustan Times that they were “shocked” at the development.
“Even we were shocked when it appeared on social media as to how a 22-year-old boy got vaccinated,” Ketan Pathak from Fadnavis’ media cell told HT.
‘No Idea Under What Protocol He Got First Dose in Mumbai’: What Nagpur Hosp Said
The Director of the Nagpur Hospital told The Indian Express that Tanmay got his first dose at Mumbai’s Seven Hills Hospital.
“Tanmay Fadnavis took his second dose at NCI. He had his first at Seven Hills hospital in Mumbai. Under which provision he got his first dose is not known to us. He showed us the certificate and we gave him the second dose at our centre,” Shailesh Joglekar, director of the National Cancer Institute said.
‘Many Eligible People Were Turned Away But...’: Twitterati React
Several took to Twitter to call out the blatant disregard of protocol and questioned how he got the vaccine when several eligible and elderly people were turned away by hospitals.
Many also called out the “privilege” and said that there would be many like Tanmay Fadnavis who might have gotten vaccinated out of turn
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)