Citizens upset over the shifting of vaccination centre from PHC to MLA’s convention hall

Bengaluru: On Monday, a vaccination centre was shifted abruptly from Bhuvaneshwari Nagar Primary Health Centre to an MLA’s convention centre at his order. This put many people in rage who had been given the tokens to get the jabs.

CV Raman Nagar MLA S Raghu said that the shift was done for the benefit of people as the PHC was becoming crowded. The convention centre is 3 km from the PHC. On Tuesday, some activists submitted a representation alleging that he was giving the orders for the same. The locals said that at early Monday morning, 300 people were given the tokens to receive the jabs but, three hours later, they were directed to go to Om Shakti Kalyana Mantapa owned by Raghu. They were told that the tokens would be valid there.

Manjunath, a local, had taken the tokes=ns for his parents at 7 am. He took them to the PHC at 9:45 am and then, they were asked to go to the convention hall. He said, “There was utter chaos. We were stopped for 30 minutes as the MLA had to inaugurate the drive.”

Suraksha, 46, did not receive the vaccine due to the chaos. She said, “First, they made me go from the PHC to the convention centre. Later, they denied the jab stating the token was invalid.”

Congress functionary Abhilash S Reddy alleged that the shift was done at his behest and the vaccination drive was limited to his followers.

Raghu stated that the convention hall was decided officially. He said, “There is np PHC in New Thippasandra ward and the convention hall I own is equidistant for both wards. I gave the hall for free.”

“Bhuvaneshwari Nagar PHC cannot accommodate a large number of people. There was a commotion at the PHC as people who received tokens were asked to go to the hall. Some who had not taken tokens also took the vaccine and they were said to be my supporters. My family and supporters took the jab earlier at Sir CV Raman General Hospital”, he said.